Larger Tyres On 4.3 17" Wheels

[benxt5]

Hi, I will need to replace the tyres on my 4.3 in the next few months and would like to put some larger ones on if possble.

I am wondering what size would be best without effecting ride and handling too much.

Has anyone fitted 235/60/17s? I am looking at these maybe? link

[Big Kev]

For what it's worth, I put four nearly new "60" profile Bridgestone Turanzas on to my wife's 3 door 4.2 in the summer to replace the rock hard compound of the Pirelli Scorpions that were on it. Almost instantaneous result was that SHE noticed the suspension seemed a lot more forgiving going over these blasted red concrete traffic calming pyramids our estate is plagued with.

Furhermore, the road noise which I think the wee 3 doors suffer from anyway was all but halfed by these tyres. IMO, the bit of extra height of the 60 profile actually gives an air of more substantialityness (that's a word....) over the previous 55 profiles. This just my 4.8 old pence worth....hope it helps.

Even more conversely, my previous Avensis suffered major road noise with the very same tyre, The Turanzas, which are now much quieter on the Rav...strange. I found Dunlop Sport 01's very quiet on the Avensis so may be worth pricing them up also too forbye...?

Big Kev.

[bothwell_buyer]

For what it's worth, I put four nearly new "60" profile Bridgestone Turanzas on to my wife's 3 door 4.2 in the summer to replace the rock hard compound of the Pirelli Scorpions that were on it. Almost instantaneous result was that SHE noticed the suspension seemed a lot more forgiving going over these blasted red concrete traffic calming pyramids our estate is plagued with.

Furhermore, the road noise which I think the wee 3 doors suffer from anyway was all but halfed by these tyres. IMO, the bit of extra height of the 60 profile actually gives an air of more substantialityness (that's a word....) over the previous 55 profiles. This just my 4.8 old pence worth....hope it helps.

Even more conversely, my previous Avensis suffered major road noise with the very same tyre, The Turanzas, which are now much quieter on the Rav...strange. I found Dunlop Sport 01's very quiet on the Avensis so may be worth pricing them up also too forbye...?

Big Kev.

ahem (cough) those red concrete traffic calming things you speak of are actually tank traps put there to keep the estate inhabitants in. A modern day equivalent of Hadrians Wall methinks. (By the way, Hadrians Wall was built by the Polish).

With tyres you really need to decide what majority use they will be put to - if you want a soft ride then of course you don't go for low profiles. If you want to enjoy a firm ride even when a puncture/blow-out occurs then you go for a harder lower profile tyre like wots on nummer wan RAV. Something to skim above the snow levels then is a higher profile/bigger wheel like wot I put on our landrover (the fact that it hasn't been on the road for 30 months is neither here, there, or anywhere else).

And as you are finding, there are loads of tyres available.

The original RAV came with Dunlop tyres which were multi-purpose and mega-expensive.

The best way is to do what you're doing and canvass opinion, then relate it to yer roads and how you drive. Have fun!

[Smiler AS]

235/60/17 fit no problem, they are aver so slightly smaller, about - 1.4% diameter than stock 225/65/27 - which is nothing.

I ve been looking too and a lot of guys on Rav4 World run 235/65/17 (about + 1.7% diameter) no prob at all.

Choice is huge (and a lot cheaper) at that size on the camskill website too, plus very good price on the Vredestein Wintracs too - just a shame none in stock.

BigKev made a good point too, ive got 55 profiles on my Rav4.1 and it is rattly over the rough stuff, snow and ice.

But on dry twisty roads it gives a good firm "sporty" ride - thats what I say to myself anyway!

Wouldnt go any lower than 60 profile on 17"s on a 4.3.

PS. That link is to 235/60/18's - just incase order them by accident.

[benxt5]

PS. That link is to 235/60/18's - just incase order them by accident.

Well spotted!!!

I'll look into the 235/65/17s I think... Thanks.

[three5]

PS. That link is to 235/60/18's - just incase order them by accident.

Well spotted!!!

I'll look into the 235/65/17s I think... Thanks.

Hi Ben,

I've got 235 x 65 x 17 Michelins on my 4.3 XT5 and they are very much less noisey than the original tyres. Ride and handling are excellent. They even perform well in the snow!