Recommend a 17” snow tire for my RAV4?

[Jmlo96]

My favorite winter tires have been Continental by a long shot. I've had the WinterContact SI, the VikingContact 7 and now the VikingContact 8. The Continentals have been the best all-around tires and longest lasting. I haven't used the VikingContact 8's that I got for my Maverick, but I had no hesitance to buy them with the terrific service the VikingContact 7s provided.

I've tried Bridgestone, Michelin, Vredenstein, Firestone, and General winter tires in the past 10 years. None of them could match the Continentals IMO.

 

[edyvw]

My favorite winter tires have been Continental by a long shot. I've had the WinterContact SI, the VikingContact 7 and now the VikingContact 8. The Continentals have been the best all-around tires and longest lasting. I haven't used the VikingContact 8's that I got for my Maverick, but I had no hesitance to buy them with the terrific service the VikingContact 7s provided.

I've tried Bridgestone, Michelin, Vredenstein, Firestone, and General winter tires in the past 10 years. None of them could match the Continentals IMO.

They really don’t have any weaknesses. They just do everything good. There are tires that have better performance in one or two categories, but they usually trade off that for noticeable weaknesses elsewhere.

 

[i6pwr]

@Elkins45 Not sure how much snow/ice you get, but since you said you will be using a spare set of wheels, I assume you will be able to swap back and forth at your house, especially during lengthy times of clear roads? That's what I did with mine if I had say a month of dry roads during winter I would spend about 20 min and swap back to my all seasons...but just a personal preference to save the winter tire tread.

I say that because dedicated winter tires have higher treadwear due to the softer compound, something to keep in mind.

If I had your Rav 4 with that tire size, I would get a set of these Blizzaks.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...MI7aOe9aj5kAMV00hHAR3HmA3OEAQYAiABEgIlpPD_BwE

I've used a few sets of winter tires, X-Ice, Blizzaks, and Firestone, the DM-V2 is an incredible tire. Braking on hardpack snow, almost smooth ice is amazing. I rarely needed 4WD in my Envoy, using RWD most of the time.

 

[edyvw]

@Elkins45 Not sure how much snow/ice you get, but since you said you will be using a spare set of wheels, I assume you will be able to swap back and forth at your house, especially during lengthy times of clear roads? That's what I did with mine if I had say a month of dry roads during winter I would spend about 20 min and swap back to my all seasons...but just a personal preference to save the winter tire tread.

I say that because dedicated winter tires have higher treadwear due to the softer compound, something to keep in mind.

If I had your Rav 4 with that tire size, I would get a set of these Blizzaks.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...MI7aOe9aj5kAMV00hHAR3HmA3OEAQYAiABEgIlpPD_BwE

I've used a few sets of winter tires, X-Ice, Blizzaks, and Firestone, the DM-V2 is an incredible tire. Braking on hardpack snow, almost smooth ice is amazing. I rarely needed 4WD in my Envoy, using RWD most of the time.

I had two sets of DM-V2.
1. They wear super fast.
2. Their ice performance is problematic. They are ok (nothing better or worse than competition) going forward. But lateral handling, they have nasty habit of breaking traction without progressive loss. They don’t give any indication that they are losing traction until cars starts to slide and then they just let go abruptly.
That was same problem with Blizzak WS80, which s same generation compound.
In KY considering how fast DM-V2 tend to wear out, and their poor performance in dry, I would definitely go something else.

 

[MNgopher]

A plug for the General Altimax Arctic (or the General Grabber Arctic tires for SUV/LT use). Been very, very pleased and happy with the set we run on our Explorer. Treadwear has been reasonable for a snow tire, and in that rig super sure footed. We have a set of the Altimax Arctics on our Ford Fusion and they've been excellent as well.

Switching my F150 to a set of Grabber Arctics shortly as well to replace Yokohoma IceGuard tires that were acceptable when new, and the treadwear has been excellent (currently at 42,000 miles on the set) However, traction fell off rapidly after the were new. I've also run winter tires from Hankook (one set was great, the other meh) and Cooper (also a so so experience relative to the Generals.

 

[TacoFergie]

I've been very happy with the Nokian R5 SUV (245/65R17) tires on our Subaru Ascent. I also liked the Nokian Hakkapellita 9's (non-studded) on our previous Ford Fusion. Both have done really well on packed snow, slush and fresh snow. Also both are very quiet, ride nice and has very good steering response/stability on dry roads. I'd like to try the Michelins and Continental snow tires based on tests I've seen, but it'll be another year or two before needing a new set of snow tires. Currently have 3 winters and about 30k on the R5's and they still have about 9/32" all the way around, 11/32" was new.

But in reality, the worst snow tire is better than the best all season or all terrain. I've had General, Goodyear and Nitto snow tires on multiple vehicles. They all performed very well. Except the Nitto SN2 snow tire. Fantastic in every condition except when on highways with grooves, they would track with the grooves and it would feel unstable, almost like it was swaying back and forth. Very uneasy feeling when its patchy. Heck, my Tacoma had Goodyear Duratrac RT's which are arguably one of the best AT's in the snow and I'd choose one of the aforementioned vehicles with snow tires over the Tacoma unless it was over 1ft of snow, evne then it'd be a tough choice.

 

[Elkins45]

Walmart has Cooper Discoverer True North Winters for $88 right now, give them a try.

I didn’t order them immediately because we’re traveling and I didn’t want them sitting on the porch for days. Now they’re out of stock.

 

[edyvw]

I didn’t order them immediately because we’re traveling and I didn’t want them sitting on the porch for days. Now they’re out of stock.

Spring is time to buy snow tires.

 

[Elkins45]

Spring is time to buy snow tires.

I’m thinking I’ll do OK with catching a Black Friday deal at Walmart.

 

[dubber09]

Another vote for General Altimax Arctic 12 - very happy with them be it dry pavement, fresh or compacted snow or ice. They are pretty quiet which surprised me; and wearing very well (slow). They are also studdable if one needs that. Just pay attention to load index of the tire as they are 'not truly an SUV tire'.

 

[GaryMX5]

Another vote for General Altimax Arctic 12 - very happy with them be it dry pavement, fresh or compacted snow or ice. They are pretty quiet which surprised me; and wearing very well (slow). They are also studdable if one needs that. Just pay attention to load index of the tire as they are 'not truly an SUV tire'.

x2 on the altimax. I've had three sets over the years. I got them primarily for good pricing but they proved very capable especially in soft snow and slush. Great around town and in the mountains. Never put a lot of highway trip miles on any set. Did drive a few times from Denver to western Kansas (about 250 miles one way). Like any snow tire they were a little squirmmy and noisey at speed. Just a very decent snow tire with no glaring problems or issues. (had them on my 14 mazda6, 16 cx5 and 21 cx5). I should add that I have a set of GT Champiro from Discount Tire. I bought these for my wifes 18 mazda 3. She felt she needed some snow tires in 2022 or 23. We had ONE pretty good storm that year that freaked her out. I got the cheapest things I could find just to appease her (she doesn't drive in the snow anyway). Darn if they didn't turned out to be a pretty good tire. They've held up so well that I'm going to give that set a go on my new Mazda3. If you need a cheaper tire these are worth looking at. PS....they're made in South Carolina of all places!!

 

[Oldswagon]

I just bought a spare set of wheels for my RAV4 with the intention of buying a dedicated set of snow tires. I’m looking for true snow tires, not necessarily all-weather tires. Are there any reasonably priced ones that are readily available?

I just put Continental VC8s on my wife's 22 Rav4. They have only been on for 4 weeks but so far really good in the snow and ice we have had. They seem to be better than the X-Ice SUVs it had previously, but they were also decent tires. My area has some of the worst winters around, lots of snow, ice, slush, super cold conditions where the roads get hard pack snow as slippery as ice (salt becomes ineffective). The X-Ice performed well but my initial impression will be the Contientals will be better. Time will tell to see if they wear as well as the Michelins.