New tires for 2016 4Runner SR5

[RBT]

In the next few months I will need tires on the 4Runner. Stock 17 inch wheels. No off-roading except fields and camp grounds so I don’t want anything with an off-road tread - too noisy. My teenage son is the principal driver on it right now, so I want a safe handling margin, particularly wet stopping distance. I will be replacing the second set of Bridgestone Dueler 684s (original equipment). The Bridgestones get poor online reviews but I have found them very good, and this is why I am not swayed by website retailer reviews. This forum seems to be populated by more knowledgeable folks. The shop we use recommended Kumho Crugens. I have not had Kumho before on a street vehicle. (We did use them on a track car many years ago and they were acceptable but that was a very different application.) They are cheaper than the Bridgestones but while I don’t like to waste money, I also don’t shop tires solely on price. Plus if you look at 4Runner forums front wheel imbalance (steering wheel shimmy at highway speeds) seems to be an issue but I have not experienced it with mine, my guess is because I use a first line tire and haven’t messed with lifts and other modifications. Finally I know Michelin is a good brand but I have not had luck with them on our SUVs and light trucks so I am not inclined in that direction.

Thank you in advance. Hope folks are having a good Labor Day weekend.

 

[Boomer]

Try a set of Continentals . Read their reviews on Tire Rack and go from there. I have had excellent performance and wear from all the Contis I have used over the years and would pick them for a teen aged driver any day.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Read THIS thread a couple down from yours.

You still have today to open a Continental Credit card and get a $200 rebate on Conti tires. Don't delay or they might have it again around black Friday. I opened mine during the black Friday sale, printed the information, used it at local dealer which was cheaper than Tire Rack including install.

Continental TerrainContact HT
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Pirelli Scorpion AS3

The Kuhmo rate pretty well but I think you would get longer consistent performance from the 3 above. I have the Michelin Defender LTX M/S on wife's Pilot. That takes us on beach, trail/gravel/light mud to hunting cabin, daily drive, trips and light towing.

 

[Delta]

I think there's a rebate next month on General Tires. A set of Grabber H/T's would likely fit the bill nicely.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Road focus (best in wet, terrible in snow)
Continental Cross Contact HT
Michelin Defender LTX MS2

Light AT (quiet, good wet performance, good in snow)
Nokian Outpost APT
Cooper Road + Trail
Firestone AT2

I, personally, would never put road-only tires on a 4Runner. You bought a body on frame SUV for a reason, don’t hobble it. I don’t know if you need snow performance but I noted it anyway. The ATs listed will dominate in cold weather.

 

[thescreensavers]

Modern A/Ts are quiet and look good on a 4runner, but if you do mostly highway, a highway tire would be best.

Tirerack for the top 3 options and shop around for prices.

 

[RBT]

I think there's a rebate next month on General Tires. A set of Grabber H/T's would likely fit the bill nicely.

Read THIS thread a couple down from yours.

You still have today to open a Continental Credit card and get a $200 rebate on Conti tires. Don't delay or they might have it again around black Friday. I opened mine during the black Friday sale, printed the information, used it at local dealer which was cheaper than Tire Rack including install.

Continental TerrainContact HT
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Pirelli Scorpion AS3

The Kuhmo rate pretty well but I think you would get longer consistent performance from the 3 above. I have the Michelin Defender LTX M/S on wife's Pilot. That takes us on beach, trail/gravel/light mud to hunting cabin, daily drive, trips and light towing.

On the continentals, I think they have to be installed this weekend. I don’t think that is possible with the holiday/. But thank you.

I will check out the Generals.

 

[Astro14]

The Michelin LTX are very good in snow, but they are pricey. I have had several sets of Continentals on various cars and all have been excellent. I would be happy buying Continentals.

Nokian has recently starting making tires in the US, with a new plant in Tennessee.

https://na.nokiantyres.com/tires/suv-4x4-tyres/all-season-tires/

The Nokian Outpost nAT on my Tundra have been excellent and promise good snow and off road performance. They are smooth and quiet on the road, but not quite as smooth and quiet as the Michelins were when new. The Nokian HT would be a good highway tire, while still capable of handing dirt roads and occasional snow.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

The Michelin LTX are very good in snow

Maybe light snow, but real cold and real snow will challenge them quite badly. They are “OK” in an absolute sense, but remarkably bad compared to all three peak rated AT tires.

 

[leeharvey418]

Road focus (best in wet, terrible in snow)
Continental Cross Contact HT

Having driven the CrossContact H/T pretty extensively in snow, I can tell you they’re anything but terrible. I’ve had 3PMSF Nokian all-weather tires that weren’t nearly as good as the Continentals in winter driving.

 

[Astro14]

Maybe light snow, but real cold and real snow will challenge them quite badly. They are “OK” in an absolute sense, but remarkably bad compared to all three peak rated AT tires.

I should have been more clear.

The LTX are very good in snow for an all season/AT.

But three peak AT tires are remarkably bad compared with actual winter tires.

The BFG AT KO, for example, are nowhere near as good as the Bridgestone Blizzak DM series.

I’ve driven all three in snow. Snow performance is about tread compound as much as tread design.

The 3 PMSF is based solely on tread rubber/void ratio. It doesn’t actually predict snow performance accurately.

 

[I<3oil]

Read THIS thread a couple down from yours.

You still have today to open a Continental Credit card and get a $200 rebate on Conti tires. Don't delay or they might have it again around black Friday. I opened mine during the black Friday sale, printed the information, used it at local dealer which was cheaper than Tire Rack including install.

Continental TerrainContact HT
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
Pirelli Scorpion AS3

The Kuhmo rate pretty well but I think you would get longer consistent performance from the 3 above. I have the Michelin Defender LTX M/S on wife's Pilot. That takes us on beach, trail/gravel/light mud to hunting cabin, daily drive, trips and light towing.

/thread

 

[Sequoiasoon]

On the continentals, I think they have to be installed this weekend. I don’t think that is possible with the holiday/. But thank you.

I will check out the Generals.

They just have to be purchased with dated, itemized receipt. Install can happen afterward.

If you don't have or get the Conti card they still have a $110 rebate through today. The extra $90 comes from using the card.

If you can wait until black Friday sales you can plan accordingly. I use my card just for tires and pay off at end of the month.

 

[Slick3914]

Firestone AT/2 would be a solid choice.

 

[Speedbird001]

I have a '17 Tacoma O/R. Your 4Runner and use is very similar to myself.

TLDR: I will be buying Cooper Road + Trail very soon. I would NOT recommend Nitto Ridge Grappler.

Have had +1 size Nitto Ridge Grapplers about the last 40-50k, From day-1 they have had a terrible vibration... I complained and had many alignments and rebalancing to include (Not cheap) road force balancing. Balance now is barely acceptable, but now they are cupping and getting noisy. The only reason I didn't ditch them a year or two ago is because I cannot bear to let that $1,100 I paid for them go with so much tread life left. My local Toyota dealer will match Discount Tire and has a $50 off anything >$500 coupon thru Sep, so that's what I will be doing.

I second the earlier comment by @goingplacesanddoingstuff (Don't hobble a 4Runner)

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

I should have been more clear.

The LTX are very good in snow for an all season/AT.

They are average, at best. The General Altimax 365 and Michelin CC2 are markedly superior, although still not as good as most ATs.

But three peak AT tires are remarkably bad compared with actual winter tires.

Yes, but that is not germaine to the thread. It doesn’t mean there aren’t marked differences in non-winter tires.

I’ve driven all three in snow. Snow performance is about tread compound as much as tread design.

Correct.

The 3 PMSF is based solely on tread rubber/void ratio. It doesn’t actually predict snow performance accurately.

It is actually based on empirical testing against a reference tire and there are no stipulations about either compound or tread design to meet the requirements. It just has to exceed 10% better acceleration than the reference tire. It is not the end all be all standard, but I am using it as a proxy because the vast majority of modern ATs with that rating will outperform the Defender.

 

[Delta]

I have a '17 Tacoma O/R. Your 4Runner and use is very similar to myself.

TLDR: I will be buying Cooper Road + Trail very soon. I would NOT recommend Nitto Ridge Grappler.

Have had +1 size Nitto Ridge Grapplers about the last 40-50k, From day-1 they have had a terrible vibration... I complained and had many alignments and rebalancing to include (Not cheap) road force balancing. Balance now is barely acceptable, but now they are cupping and getting noisy. The only reason I didn't ditch them a year or two ago is because I cannot bear to let that $1,100 I paid for them go with so much tread life left. My local Toyota dealer will match Discount Tire and has a $50 off anything >$500 coupon thru Sep, so that's what I will be doing.

I second the earlier comment by @goingplacesanddoingstuff (Don't hobble a 4Runner)

I actually have a set of Road + Trail on my '24 Tacoma. I wasn't going to mention them as they're likely more aggressive than what OP needs.

HOWEVER, the on road manners are really good and are super quiet. Does well in winter too. A set of 265/70/17's ran me roughly $800 OTD.

Probably more aggressive than the OP needs, but may be worth a look?

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I actually have a set of Road + Trail on my '24 Tacoma. I wasn't going to mention them as they're likely more aggressive than what OP needs.

HOWEVER, the on road manners are really good and are super quiet. Does well in winter too. A set of 265/70/17's ran me roughly $800 OTD.

Probably more aggressive than the OP needs, but may be worth a look?

We put the Cooper Road + Trail on my father-in-laws Renegade. They definitely have it in the "looks" department. Both of us noticed how much better (softer/more compliant) it rode as compared to his Falken WildPeak AT Trail. I haven't taken much highway drive in it and no snow yet to really comment. He is very happy with them so far.

 

[HighHy21]

The 3 PMSF is based solely on tread rubber/void ratio. It doesn’t actually predict snow performance accurately.

No it's not. Mud & Snow (M+S) is based solely on tread rubber/void ratio.

3PMSF is based on exceeding the minimal performance testing in accordance to the Rubber Manufacturers Association testing.

 

[tblt44]

For cost savings I have had good luck with Walmart tire and auto. My last set was cooper tires during covid and still going strong from Walmart