For over a decade, the Honda Odyssey has been one of America's top selling minivans. With its good looks, spacious interior and Honda's reliability, the Odyssey has logged millions of miles on U.S. roads. Along for the ride are some very good choices of tires, including the most common size of 235/65R16.
Having spoken with hundreds of Odyssey owners and having made several more recommendations, I've found three tires that have been solid choices.
My favorite option is the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring. This tire is one on the best riding tires I have ever driven on. Period. It offers the qualities most drivers are looking for in a tire: very smooth, quiet, great all-season traction and will last a long time.
Next, the Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology is an ecologically friendly tire that's designed to enhance driving pleasure, save fuel and maintain grip while on wet surfaces. Technically, the tire is marketed as a Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire, but works just as well on the Honda Odyssey. This tire is also very comfortable and offers excellent traction. The difference with this tire is its low rolling resistance technology that provides drivers with a little better fuel economy.
When in comes to a value option, I prefer the Hankook Optimo H727. This tire offers good all-season traction and reasonable ride manners. It's developed to deliver a premium appearance and long wear along with dry, wet and wintertime traction, even in light snow. Optimo H727 tires also come with a 100,000-mile treadlife warranty.
Do you need additional help with selecting your new tires? Then visit our Tire Decision Guide to see which performance category best suits your driving needs.
While Bridgestone's Potenza line is known for performance, Turanza tires are known for comfort. The new Ecopia line is quickly emerging as the family of tires that'll help your car go "green."
Ecopia tires utilize Bridgestone’s most advanced technology to produce fuel-efficient Original Equipment and replacement tires. These tires have been developed with a focus on low rolling resistance in sizes typically used on small, fuel-efficient vehicles and hybrids, but are now becoming available in some popular light truck and SUV tire sizes as well.
Low Rolling Resistance technology is one of several tools used to improve fuel economy in new cars (along with a focus on a vehicle's weight and aerodynamics), and is becoming a focus for many shopping for new tires. Tire Rack has recently added data loggers and vehicle trip computers to our test fleet in an effort to collect and compare fuel economy figures as part of our testing procedure.
Last year we tested the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia for SUVs and the Ecopia EP422 for smaller passenger vehicles with impressive results for not only fuel economy, but comfort and handling.
For more information on choosing the right fuel-efficient tire for your vehicle, read "We Can Help You Find the Best Low Rolling Resistance Tire for Your Car."
While researching tires on your website, you may see the same tire listed twice. For example, in the 225/65-17 size, you'll see a $173* Michelin Latitude Tour and a $182* Michelin Latitude Tour. Are these two tires really identical? Or are there differences? One of the options (the Latitude Tour currently listed at $173) is an Original Equipment tire used on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS. The other Michelin option (currently listed for $182) is the "normal" version of the Latitude Tour.
What are the technical differences between the two versions? With these two tires, there are differences in each tire's load carrying capacity, treadwear rating and weight. The non-Original Equipment Latitude Tour has a 100T service description, while the GM variant Latitude Tour has a 102T service description. A load index of 100 equals 1,764 lbs. of load carry capacity and 102 carries 1,874 lbs. The Original Equipment tire has a treadwear rating of 720 compared to a 600 rating on the "normal" Latitude Tour. Each tire is offered with a 65,000 mile treadwear warranty. The Latitude Tour with the 100T service description has two polyester plies and a 30 pound weight, where the GM variant Latitude Tour has one polyester sidewall ply and a 25 pound weight.
To summarize, both tires are similar; however the Original Equipment version of the tire should wear better and has less carrying capacity.
If you're replacing one or two tires, you should try to stay with the version you currently have so you have the same grip on each corner of the vehicle. When replacing four tires, either option will work, unless the O.E. variant is for a vehicle that's markedly different than yours.
225/65-17 Michelin Latitude Tour FAQ:
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The "normal" Latitude Tour is listed as being on backorder, how long will this last? Backorder means that the tire is on order, but the tire manufacturer can't provide an approximate in-stock date. We can make a projection based upon the last ship date and whether or not a production run is scheduled and past patterns. We are constantly following up with the tire manufacturers for up-to-date information. Since there is no production run scheduled, we project this tire will be available in approximately two or three months.
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I have a third-generation (2007-2011) Honda CRV, which version of the Latitude Tour do you recommend? Also, does the GM variant Latitude Tour have enough carrying capacity? I'd choose the GM variant tire because the 5 lbs. of weight savings is substantial. Fuel economy will vary with several parameters, but if everything else remains the same, shedding 5 lbs. of weight will provide a measurable improvement.
As far as weight carrying capacity, the CRV has a gross axle weight rating of 2,226 in the front and 2,290 on the rear. So each tire must carry 1,141 lbs. to meet minimum spec. At 1,764 lbs. (1,605 with the standard SUV and truck adjustment), either tire has more than enough capacity.
*Prices subject to change
Most truck owners never intend to take their vehicles off-road. Highway All-Season tires offer the benefits of a quiet, smooth ride. They provide excellent mileage and good grip in water and light snow conditions. These tires are built essentially for crossover and sport utility vehicles, as well as pick-up trucks and full-size vans. The following tires are a few of our top sellers in the Highway All-Season category and provide an excellent value.
Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experiences with these tires:
"The Destination LEs came O.E. on my 2006 Explorer and I currently have 65,000 miles on them. I'll be replacing them soon with another set of LEs, but could probably squeeze another 3,000-4,000 miles out of them. I've been completely satisfied with these Firestones." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2wd (Firestone Destination LE)
"After 45,000 miles I could not be happier. Still have plenty of tread and the ride is as if the tires were new. I would not hesitate to buy another set based on this experience. By the look of things, I may get 70,000 plus, not bad for a truck tire." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5 2wd (General Grabber HTS)
"I really like these Yokohamas. Good traction in dry weather. Ran into a horrible thunderstorm a couple of days ago and these tires performed like a champ. No hydroplaning." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 1998 Ford F-150 XL 2wd Pick-up (Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051)
I equipped one of my vehicles with a set of Firestone Destination LE for a few years and enjoyed the tire's performance. To see which tire is right for your vehicle, shop by vehicle.
When considering Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tires, Pirelli is typically not a brand that comes to mind for many consumers. However, the same company that makes high-end performance tires for Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ferrari and others, also designs a fantastic tire for trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles.
The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season is currently the top-rated tire in the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season category. It receives the highest marks in its class in several areas:
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Wet Traction
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Hydroplaning Resistance
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Cornering Stability
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Dry Traction
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Steering Response
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Light Snow Traction
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Ride Comfort
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Treadwear
While this isn't a tire designed for off-road use, it's a very smooth and quiet riding tire for those who drive mostly on paved roads. If you're shopping for the best replacement tires for your crossover, truck or SUV, this tire is definitely worth considering.
Looking for Pirelli tire reviews on the Scorpion Verde All Season? Then take a look at our consumer reviews.
In 2011, Continental introduced their new Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire, the Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology.
The CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology is an ecologically friendly option developed to help crossovers, sport utility vehicles and light-duty pickup trucks perform on the highway and in mild off-road conditions. CrossContact LX20 tires are designed to enhance driving pleasure, save fuel and maintain grip when braking on wet surfaces, all while providing long wear and all-season traction, even in light snow.
The tire ranked first during our testing and is near the top in our Tire Survey Results. SEMA even awarded the Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology as the 2011 winner of the "Best New Tire and Related Product."
Here's a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experience with the tire:
"Since changing to the Continental tire, the road noise has been reduced in the cabin. It is a more comfortable ride than the stock tires and my MPG has increased slightly. I expect it would be greater with some longer trips. I highly recommend these tires." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
"Great tires. I enjoy driving my Cadillac SRX again. Noise level was substantially reduced." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 Cadillac SRX 2WD V8
To see how this Continental tire can benefit your vehicle, watch "Testing Eco-Focused Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season Tires."
Do you have one of these sizes? If so, you must own a GM vehicle. It appears these sizes were made by GM for the Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. That being said, there aren't many options available in this size, however there are more options now than a year ago.
SUVs with the O.E. size of 255/65R-18 came with the Goodyear Fortera HL Edition, while SUVs with the size 255/60R19 were equipped with either the Michelin Latitude Tour or Goodyear Eagle RS-A.
Since these vehicles have been around a few years, it's probably time for many owners to think about changing tires.
Beginning with the 18" size, the O.E. Goodyear is not a bad tire, but I believe the Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology (pictured) would be an upgrade over your current tire. This tire has good all-season traction, is relatively quiet and features Continental's low rolling resistance technology. This means that you should experience an increase in fuel economy. The other tire I would suggest is the Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season. This tire has a more aggressive tread design and will perform better in the snow and rain versus the original Goodyear. Typically, these replacement tires are offered at a lower price compared to the Original Equipment tire.
As for those SUVs with the 19" size, the O.E. Michelin is also a good tire, but tends to be more expensive than some other options, while the Goodyear Eagle RS-A leaves much to be desired and suffers in many performance categories. The first tire I would suggest is the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza. This tire is quite comparable to the Michelin, but at a lower price. It has good all-season traction and is also relatively quiet. Another exceptional value option would be the Firestone Destination ST. This tire features a unique and stylish tread design that performs quite well in wet and dry conditions.
The most important factor to consider in wet weather traction is tread depth. Even though their tires are not legally worn out, many drivers don't realize they may be below adequate tread depth to properly function in wet weather conditions. A tire is officially worn out when it reaches 2/32" of remaining tread depth, but after 4/32" of remaining tread depth your tires are recommended for dry roads only.
Hydroplaning occurs when a wedge of water lifts the tire from the road, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Hydroplaning is most frequent with heavy rain or high speed in wet conditions. It's the tires job to evacuate water quickly and efficiently to maintain contact with the road at all times. If your tires don't have sufficient tread depth the channels that evacuate water from underneath the tread will not be large enough to resist the wedge of water from building.
The tread design itself also plays an important role in wet weather traction. The directional tread design, also known as unidirectional tread, is one of the most efficient designs for water evacuation. Most directional tires have a V-shape tread pattern which can more easily push water from underneath the tire when compared to a typical ribbed tread design.
If you're looking for a safer wet-weather driving tire for your performance sedan or coupe, like a BMW 3 Series, the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position is my choice. If you have a touring sedan like the Toyota Camry I would recommend the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season, while the Yokohama Parada Spec-X would be a preferred choice for an SUV like the Ford Edge.
Shop by vehicle to find the tire that'll be best in wet weather conditions for your vehicle.
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE
2008 Infiniti G35 Sedan
