Hello M... I installed the Michelins X-Ice Xi2 on my 2009 LE last year and I think they are an excellent winter tire, I did a lot of winter driving and they held the road well and I think are the best on ice road conditions. I bought my steel rims from Toyota, and my winter ones do not have the TPMS installed, which is no big thing because I check the pressure quite often. Good Luck on your choice.

 

Do you run wheel covers on your steelies or leave the hub exposed?

OEM hubsentric rims from toyota are about $80 each, cheaper elsewhere.

Another option may be to run a RAV4 steel rim, although the centre caps are $50 each!

I'm pretty sure the TPMS on the 04 is indirect so it should work with any wheelset I get.

Thanks for the input.

 

Have you looked at Tirerack.com? I'm going to get the Blizzak on rims balanced and shipped to my house for 700. The X-ice is only $10 more per tire. They say the rims are hubcentric and they send the lugnuts too. (alloy lugnuts will not work with steel rims)

Anyways thats the way I'm going. I've done tons of research on the tires and the x-ice and blizzak are neck and neck. I know the blizzak doesn't last as long but they say there better in snow...which I need in my area of Montana.

 

I run wheel covers on my steelies and I forgot to mentioned I purchased the tires at Costco in Kingston, ON.
Cheers

 

Have you looked at Tirerack.com? I'm going to get the Blizzak on rims balanced and shipped to my house for 700. The X-ice is only $10 more per tire. They say the rims are hubcentric and they send the lugnuts too. (alloy lugnuts will not work with steel rims)

Anyways thats the way I'm going. I've done tons of research on the tires and the x-ice and blizzak are neck and neck. I know the blizzak doesn't last as long but they say there better in snow...which I need in my area of Montana.

Yes, Tirerack.com is a pretty sweet deal in the US, however, it would cost $687.47 US to get the Xi2 tires only to me here in Canada...then I would lose on the exchange rate when I pay my credit card bill.

Have fun in the snow!

 

I have been shopping around for a set of winter tires for my 2004 Toyota Sienna XLE that has stock size 225/60/17...

Just a suggestion to make online searching easier: use the correct notation of 225/60R17 (instead of the extra slash) for a better chance at getting matches.

As far as I know I can downsize to 16" rims and run 215/65/16 tires.

Yes, as far as I know there is nothing about the Siennas which came equipped with 17" wheels which would stop them from using the 16" wheels.

The winter tires will have dedicated rims and I am comtemplating buying a set of pre-owned Toyota alloys (2004 Toyota Sienna LX rims for $100 each - excellent condition, stored each winter) or new hubcentric steelies ($70 each, would require new lugs too).

When I was running separate summer and winter tires (for the first four years) I used separate sets of wheels. Although I used steel wheels, given that the OEM alloys are now available used I would choose them if I had to get another set. I would be happy to find them for only $100 each.

Good catch on the nuts: yes, they are different for the OEM alloys and any steel wheel.

 

Do you run wheel covers on your steelies or leave the hub exposed?

I had the hubs exposed, because I didn't want (or want to pay for) the full wheel covers (like on a Sienna CE). This is fine in the back, but leads to unwanted corrosion on the exposed thread of the front driveshaft ends. When I later realized that the RAV4 and Highlander had styled steel wheels with centre caps which would be a direct fit, I wished had had known that at the time I purchased.

Another option may be to run a RAV4 steel rim, although the centre caps are $50 each!

... or Highlander wheels. Depending on the year and model, they can have different construction details, and the circa 2004 Highlander 16" steel wheels look nicer than the similar vintage (and generally similar style) RAV4 version.

Yes, the caps are overpriced for what they are, but I would have bought them anyway.

I'm pretty sure the TPMS on the 04 is indirect so it should work with any wheelset I get.

Yes, that is correct.

 

I have an '04 sienna awd. I have ran the michelin x-ices for the past 3 winters. I opted to go with the 16" steel wheels and tires. I thought a little more sidewall would be better in the winter (curbs etc.) and of course because of the price. I bought my rims from canadian tire. I will not own a vehicle without dedicated winter tires again! They do make a difference! Just remember because you can accelerate faster doesn't mean you should... the main benefit (in my mind) is greater traction for stopping performance in the winter - which is easily negated by going too fast!

cheers,

shineysideup

 

Thanks all for the feddback. I picked up a set of used OEM alloys for $360 this morning from a private seller and found a Toyo dealer that will sell me the G-02 Plus tires for $681.79 out the door...then I'll send in the $60 rebate to the manufacturer. Not too shabby.

Thanks again

 

Thanks all for the feddback. I picked up a set of used OEM alloys for $360 this morning from a private seller and found a Toyo dealer that will sell me the G-02 Plus tires for $681.79 out the door...then I'll send in the $60 rebate to the manufacturer. Not too shabby.

Thanks again

What rims did you get? the 16" LE alloy with 215/65R16 tire. Winter alloy tire package $1000.00 CAD. YUP you have done good. What shape are the rims in? Pitted at all? Did they include the center caps?

Let us know how the G-02 tires work in the snow/ice conditions. As the winter is "starting" to approch and us "Canadian's" are making new plans for our "igloos" The winter tire comparison will be a hot topic.

 

Just to pipe up. My Canadian CE came with steel rims and hubcaps. I bought a set of OEM 6 spoke rims that came with the LE on Ebay for $45 each from a seller who had a bunch of them. I now keep my summer tires on the LE rims and the winters on the Steel set. I run Nokian Hakkapalliita Rsi studless winters and can't be happier with their performance. 4 winters on the tires so far and still have 70% tread...but we don't drive too much.

Thanks all for the feddback. I picked up a set of used OEM alloys for $360 this morning from a private seller and found a Toyo dealer that will sell me the G-02 Plus tires for $681.79 out the door...then I'll send in the $60 rebate to the manufacturer. Not too shabby.

Thanks again

What rims did you get? the 16" LE alloy with 215/65R16 tire. Winter alloy tire package $1000.00 CAD. YUP you have done good. What shape are the rims in? Pitted at all? Did they include the center caps?

Let us know how the G-02 tires work in the snow/ice conditions. As the winter is "starting" to approch and us "Canadian's" are making new plans for our "igloos" The winter tire comparison will be a hot topic.

 

Thanks all for the feddback. I picked up a set of used OEM alloys for $360 this morning from a private seller and found a Toyo dealer that will sell me the G-02 Plus tires for $681.79 out the door...then I'll send in the $60 rebate to the manufacturer. Not too shabby.

Thanks again

What rims did you get? the 16" LE alloy with 215/65R16 tire. Winter alloy tire package $1000.00 CAD. YUP you have done good. What shape are the rims in? Pitted at all? Did they include the center caps?

Let us know how the G-02 tires work in the snow/ice conditions. As the winter is "starting" to approch and us "Canadian's" are making new plans for our "igloos" The winter tire comparison will be a hot topic.

16" LE alloy with 215/65R16 tires. YES.

What shape are the rims in? Pitted at all? They need more TLC than I first anticipated and am now thinking i should have just got steelies with covers.
.
Did they include the center caps? YES, lug nuts with locks too.

Let us know how the G-02 tires work in the snow/ice conditions...will do, although i am not the primary driver of the van.

 

Thanks for the update ;D

I got a set of 16" alloys for my van too (cost me a previa for them). My van (canadian CE) came with steel wheels(now my winter rims) So my setup is like tcp's.

I am looking forward to some nice "winter tire comparisons" We will save it until the snow drops. ;D

 

I am looking forward to some nice "winter tire comparisons" We will save it until the snow drops. ;D

It's supposed to reach 30 degrees (Celcius, that's in the mid 80's F) here this week, but we should have snow the week after that. Sorry, I still won't have any new winter tire information, as I will be using my Nokian WR set again this season, as we have been the whole time for the last year.

 

I am looking forward to some nice "winter tire comparisons" We will save it until the snow drops. ;D

It's supposed to reach 30 degrees (Celcius, that's in the mid 80's F) here this week, but we should have snow the week after that. Sorry, I still won't have any new winter tire information, as I will be using my Nokian WR set again this season, as we have been the whole time for the last year.

haha the last thing tonight I am worried about is putting on my winter tires as I sit here and sweat... NO snow in my forcast ;D Don't get me started on my ws-60's

 

winter boots installed yesterday, 16" LE refinished alloys with matching lug nuts and 215/65/16 Toyo Observe G02 rubber. no harsh weather in the forecast yet. sorry about the barrel distortion in 1st picture. noticed some positive camber up font, alignment probably a good idea. could use a new intermediate steering shaft as well. it never ends. the Yoko AVID TRZ treads looked new after 5000+km and the 10 spoke XLE rims were stamped MADE IN CANADA, EH!

anyone have troube finding the complete DOT number on the Toyos? There seems to be only a partial number on the one side.

happy and safe winter driving!

 

the overall diameter of the tires (winter 215/65/16) are now 27.00" compared to 27.62" stock (225/60/17). is there anything to be worried about being over half an inch lower (suspension, steering, safety etc.)??

edit

 

the overall diameter of the tires (winter 215/65/16) are now 27.00" compared to 27.62" stock (225/65/16).

The stock 17" size is 225/60R17... but I realize that other size (above) was just a typo.

... is there anything to be worried about being over half an inch lower (suspension, steering, safety etc.)??

The overall diameter is (according to the specs listed above) reduced by 0.62", but the ride height and gearing depend on the radius, which is only reduced by half of that (0.31"). Also, tires "squish" under load, so the effective rolling radius is less than half of the overall diameter.

Michelin specs list this as "Tire Revolutions per Mile", which can easily vary by 1% between tires of the same nominal size (e.g. my original Energy LX4 at 777 rev/mile versus the X-Ice Xi2 at 777 rev/mile, both at 45mph); the difference is perhaps significant (an Energy LX4 in P225/60R17 only turns 746 rev/mile at 45mph) at 4% higher (shorter tire) for the 16" setup.

Toyota apparently does not consider this an issue: Siennas equipped with P215/65R16 and with P225/60R17 tires are mechanically identical (suspension and gearing).

 

^thanks!

should i maintain a tire pressure of 35psi with both tire sizes?

 

should i maintain a tire pressure of 35psi with both tire sizes?

I believe that the recommended inflation pressure of 35 PSI is required in P215/65R16 tires to achieve a load rating to match the axle rating... so yes, at least 35 PSI is appropriate in those tires. The capacity of P225/60R17 tires is a bit higher, but I think that Toyota still recommends the same pressure.

In other discussions here it has been pretty well established that most owners find that higher than 35 PSI works better for the 16" tires; the Toyota recommendation is not higher because that is the maximum inflation pressure for some OEM tires. The Toyo Observe G-02 Plus is a 215/65R16 98T (not P215/65R16, which would have a load index of 96); this tire can go up to 44 PSI, with higher capacity than the "P" tire, and would presumably still need about 35 PSI for adequate load capacity.

 

^thanks brian