Yu will have to up size to a 20 inch rim and get the appropriate size tire to maintain your OE wheel diameter. NOT too hard to do.
But will be an expensive remedy to your dilema. But 20" not 19" rims and tires are more the standard these days. There are many more options available to yu.
LT
Preliminary research shows that by using a 20 inch rim on your 08+ HL yu have about 10 + tires to choose from.
It appears that 245/50-20 and 255/50-20 sizes will work. This will maintain OE tire diameter and keep tread width close to OE specs. The 245/50-20 tire/rim combination appears to be an Identical fit within millimeters of the OE 245/55-19 size.LT
Last edited by LifeTech; 12-26-2008 at 09:52 AM.
Reason: spel
I can't believe that Toyota spec'd out a 19 inch rim with a made in Japanonly tire for this otherwise excellent 08 Highlander!
I feel that this is Toyotas biggest problem with the New HL design. There are virtually NO tire options let alone being able to readily find inventory on this OE 245/55-19 tire. And it is expensive.
No other Auto Mfr. is doing OE 19 inch rims and tires these days!
Tire Mfrs' have no incentive to design 19" tires to support only this 08 HL. There aren't even any Dedicated Snow tires out there for this size.
Toyota should have offered a 20" wheel package instead. Then the 08 HL would have been the first Toyota to have this size instaead of the 09 Toy. Venza being the first...as they brag much about this.
LT
Last edited by LifeTech; 12-26-2008 at 10:27 AM.
Reason: spel
Hi!
I am having the same problem here in Iowa. I have the Highlander 2008 Limited and love it until the snow and ice hit. I got stuck and then slid down our driveway sideways with absolutely no control. I went to the toyota dealer to have my 4-wheel drive checked and all was ok....then they looked at my tires and suggested I get new ones.
My next stop was the tire store and the only tires available to me are the ones that I have on(toyo) or Bridgestone Dueler HL which have terrible reviews on the tirerack.com.
Help!!!
I live in IOWA!
The weather is crazy at best. This is my 3rd Highlander, I ususally replace it every couple of years....this is my 1st Limited and the worse winter driving experiences, a lot of slidding and slipping.
In Northern Illinois the weather is bad I just went to a 275 60 17 on a 17x 8 inch wheels the other day and it works great I put on a Firestone Le destination tires and it appears to work great. I tested for fit aftermarket wheels because of the extra large calipers and came up with a set...Also down the road tire replacement will not cost what the 20inch tire and wheels will cost The tire is quiet and smooth running. I have had all different tires in the past and these firestone do the job. the speedo is off only less than 1 mile an hour and if I remember .82
245/65-17 would be the correct size on a 17 rim...(The 08+ Base model HL tire/rim combo)
If yu don't want to alter the tire's diameter/ change speedo reading this is best.
A taller profile(smaller rim) is best for winter traction if this most important to yu.
Last edited by LifeTech; 01-01-2009 at 06:17 PM.
Reason: spel
I have not logged into this site for more than a year. I was originally the owner of a new 2002 TRD supercharged Tundra. I needed more capacity so I traded for a 2006 F250 diesel for towing and picking up wood pellets. I fould this site and thread again while searching for decent tires for our 2008 Highlander with the 19" wheels.
My wife has a 2008 Highlander limited with the 19" wheels & tires. I was in it with her and my daughter 2 weeks ago in an ice and hail storm. i was in heavy traffic going down a hill and completely lost traction. We were just idling down a hill while slightly pumping the brakes occasionally to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. I could not maintain traction at all. It was pretty scary and upset the wife pretty badly. I had to swerve off of the road and into the shoulder of the road and then into a cornfield that just had the stubble of the stalks. It was also covered with snow and ice but I immediately regained traction as soon as I left the asphalt of the main road. We have about 25,000 miles on the OEM TOYO A20 tires. They are terrible tires in the snow and ice. i am at work today looking for replacements. Naturally, I searched Tirerack. I found some winter tires called Blizzak DM-Z3 that gets excellant reviews. The only other tire listed, the Bridgestone Dueler HT does not get very high praise. I definitely don't want to get the crappy TOYO tires again. I have been searching the web and there does not seem to be any other tire mfr that makes a good tire in this size. I really did not want to get new rims so I guess my only safe option at this point is to get the Blizzak DM-Z3's at a cost of ~$600 for a set of 4 and use them for winter only. I did find some negative data on the blizzaks too. They are apparently having some issues with the side walls bursting when the tires are used in warm and hot weather. Everyone on the web is saying that this is a winter tire ONLY! I am very surprised by all of this. I was hoping to get a set of michilans but there are none available as of today. I'm definitely going to spend more time researching this. The english (and seldom used) equivalant of this size is 30 x 9.5 x 19 but I am not having much luck finding tires using that size either.
FYI... here is a link to the Blizzaks... With the sidewall issues that they are having, I'm not convinced that I want them either.
i just ordered a set of 17" + Blizzak DM-Z3. I will be using my 19s for the summer so no sidewall issues. will post pics and result after I put them on this weekend.
i just ordered a set of 17" + Blizzak DM-Z3. I will be using my 19s for the summer so no sidewall issues. will post pics and result after I put them on this weekend.
Would like to know if you run into and size difference issues with going to the smaller wheels and tires also.
__________________ 08 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited (former ride - 05 Tundra Limited Double Cab, 4x4, TRD Pkg, Trailer Tow, Auto Dimming mirror, Factory Bed Liner, Running Boards, Bug Deflector, Sun roof):
Wife's Car :05 Prius - White, Option package 6, Glass Break Sensor, Mods: Auto door lock, Molded mud flaps, Cargo Net. Not much more you can get on it.
Oh by the way, "Batteries are included" with the Prius & Highlander Hybrids
i just ordered a set of 17" + Blizzak DM-Z3. I will be using my 19s for the summer so no sidewall issues. will post pics and result after I put them on this weekend.
But in the proper OE 245/65-17 size, (HL base size tire) it is NOT available.
>>>The closest the 17" size DMZ-3's come in is a 235/65-17 This would still alter rotation somewhat...an increase in revs per mile.
>>>sanf, which size tire were yu quoted for the 17" DMZ-3's????
I would skip the aftermarket 17" rims (save much money) and just go with the 19" DMZ-3's. As it is now available.
Also, I never noticed getting more money on a resale with these extra rims. It's always a loss. From past experience. Hopefully your new 17 rims are around the $125 price/each @ best. Just being practical.Also, vehicle handling will be altered considerably by going down 2 inches in rim size.
But if going a taller profile tire (smaller rim) is absolutely mandatory for yu, then go for it I guess.
Just my spin.
LT
Last edited by LifeTech; 01-23-2009 at 09:24 AM.
Reason: sel
...
Also, vehicle handling will be altered considerably by going down 2 inches in rim size.
...
LT
LT,
Can you explain this for me. I'm trying to understand how the smaller rim will affect performance... cornering? I thought that the overall size would still be close, if not equal, to the orginal tire size since the smaller rim is being compensated in a higher profile.
LifeTech, yea.. i thought about getting the dm-z3 for the 19s but then I would have to pay about $200+ ($25+ mount/balance in my area for 18"+ rims) yearly to mount/unmount the tires every summer and winter. the total for the four 19" tires are a bit under 300 less than what I am paying for entire new 17" + new dm-z3.
The lower the profile(less sidewall rubber of the tire) the better the steering response...conversely the taller the profile ..yu lessen the precision of steering response.
The overall diameter of both scenarios being the same is irrelevant.
Yu did well by going down to the OE 17" rim (base model size.) for traction purposes in snow...the taller profile is probably negligeable in real terms. Your decision was a practical one based on your HL's application.
BTW yu got some really AWESOME wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love them.
LT
Last edited by LifeTech; 01-25-2009 at 09:50 AM.
Reason: spel
245/55 19 tires on a 2008 highlander hybrid toyo OEM factory tire........HOW DO I GET REPLACEMENTS>>>I do not like the tire can I go to a smaller wheel and a bigger tire to still get the overall Diameter????? Thanks
2008 Highlander - I have a very good tire man. With his advice, my experience is:
Purchased 17" after-market wheels and tire pressure sending units. (Looked for 17" & 19" in a plain Jane wheel but found none, so these are least expensive alloy.) Mounted Nokian snow tires. Working very well.
Tires: Nokian 111T XL 245/65/R17 factory studded. The outer circumference is 0.6" different from the OEM mounted on 19" rims. This is the most important measurement in reference to all the electronics, i.e. speedo, tranny, etc.
The wheels must have the correct dish so as to clear the calipers and to keep the tires from rubbing elsewhere. Pressure sensor (receiver) unit must be reset each time the summer and winter tires are swapped. If the senders are after market, be sure to record the numbers before mounting as they are on the part of the valve that is inside the rim.
A bit about the Nokians: developed and tested in Denmark. My treads are about 8" wide and have LOTs of sipes and lots of studs. Studs are out of line with each other. These 17" are on the spendy side but not close to the nearly $1500.ºº I was quoted for the 19" Nokians. Interestingly, these tires are a bit less noisy than the OEM Goodyear rags. We travel the Columbia River Gorge at least once a month and less noise is a plus.
A comment about sidewalls: the taller the sidewall, the more the flex, handling is reduced compared to shorter. Conversely, the shorter the sidewall the less the flex and the better the handling. More flex also means a more cushy ride while shorter tends toward a harsher ride.
Re: 245/55R19 Tires
Re: 245/55R19 Tires
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