[HybridLove]

I’ve tired to narrow tire options down but it’s been difficult coming to a conclusion. I’m not interest in AT tires, just good traction, durability, noise and efficiency. No point in ruining my hybrid economy over a tire. I have a footage and I trailer but my previous car was fine for most things but trailering. What brand models are suitable for the RAV4 that feature low rolling resistant? Does it matter? Thanks for any advice.

I live at ski resorts in the winter, driving a 2019 Rav4 LE Hybrid. I run Nokain Hakkapelita 8 factory-studded winter tires. Studded tires get a lot of bad press, but when you're driving on ice and snow most of the time, they are a real lifesaver! I go straight up and down hills. The main hazard is that I must dodge the other cars that are slipping and sliding askew all over the road.
My fuel economy drops about 5% in winter and the studs sound like I'm driving on gravel. No problem if they give me the confidence to arrive at my destination safely. In my experience, studs improve traction during acceleration, braking and cornering. No wonder 90% of cars in snowy Finland run studded tires in Winter.

 

[rsl360]

I'm a big fan of the "studless" Hakkepalitas "Studless" is a strange term. These are not snow tires without studs. (well, they are, but that's not the point) These are snow tires that are so "grippy" that they don't need studs. They probably don't work quite as well as studs on real glare ice. I think they work better on hard packed or polished snow. On reason for this is that while studded tires have maybe 4-6 studs in contact with the road, the studless tire has the entire contact area working. Blizzak is the other big name in this, and now other are making them. I think the concept has been around for about 25 years. I've heard the the "all weather" tires are pretty good as well. (not be confused with "all season", which are not.) I think that there are some all weather tires that have the snowflake.

 

[HybridLove]

Once again, I'm the guy with the studded Nokain Hakkapelita tires on my RAV4. I forgot to mention that I run "studless" Hakkapelita tires on my other (non-Toyota) car. The studless Hakka tires are far less noisy than the studded version and are excellent in Winter conditions, but not as good as studs when driving on ice. This difference really shows up when you hit ice that is above freezing, with some water on the surface. Studs also have an advantage in lumpy, icy parking lots (I cannot explain this).

 

[tmel88]

Nokian WRG4

 

[rsl360]

Studs also have an advantage in lumpy, icy parking lots (I cannot explain this).

That actually does make sense. The "studless" tires need contact area. Bumpy poky stuff that keeps the tire from sitting flat on the ice would limit the area in contact with that same ice.

I have the studless tires and I really like them. One thing that's weird, but normal about them, is that sometimes you have to spin them to get out. I've never ever had my tires polish themselves into a glossy hole and then get stuck. Somehow they seem to be able to chew there way out. And I'm not burning the tires either.

 

[Rav4SnowDriver]

I’ve never had to spin my studless snow tires to get going. At least not my Blizzaks. The Nokian R3’s traction isn’t quite as good in my experience but they do last longer.

 

[Rav4SnowDriver]

Studded tires don’t make sense for most people. They have less traction on dry roads and tear up roads and garage floors.

 

[rsl360]

I’ve never had to spin my studless snow tires to get going. At least not my Blizzaks. The Nokian R3’s traction isn’t quite as good in my experience but they do last longer.

I have a fairly steep, uphill, unpaved driveway and I have to stop at the top. That's pretty much the only time this happens. My main point is that you can do this without getting stuck, unlike an all-season. With the all-season, I would have to back down and start over. It's just a unique difference from most tires, where spinning will almost always get you stuck.

 

[Rav4SnowDriver]

I have a fairly steep, uphill, unpaved driveway and I have to stop at the top. that's pretty much the only time this happens.

That make sense. I have experienced that in that instance with the R3s but only in Front Wheel Drive vehicles.

My 2009 Venza, for example.

 

[The Falken]

Winter I run the factory wheels with 225/60/18 Nokian R3 SUV. Excellent snow and ice traction and low road noise.

Summer I run aftermarket wheels with 245/55/18 Nokian WRG4's. Also have excellent traction and low road noise in any weather. The aftermarket wheels are lighter than the factory Toyota, but the larger WRG4's are a bit heavier than the stock 225/60/18 Michelin Primacy A/S. Overall I am still lighter than stock for the summer set, and my fuel economy is the same or better in some cases, even with the larger footprint. 22km hi-way driving to city with roughly 30-40 minutes of city driving I am averaging 5 - 5.2L/100km per trip. Not bad. Hi-way only I am getting 5.8 - 6L/100km.

 

[Jahikin]

Many times it can be trivial but some tires are costing people 10, 20% and up to and over 30% mpg loss. That is not negligible and voids the fact you bought a hybrid due to the Non-hybrid models getting the same if not better mpg. That is Impossible to make up for by Driving more "mpg-conscious" and can Only be prevented at time of Purchase. I drive over 2,000 miles a week in my Hybrid Rav and would not consider Anything that costs me MPG.