Quick picks
Step 1: Pick your size
Your factory tire size depends on your trim. You can put winter tires on your factory wheels, but most owners buy a second set of wheels so the seasonal change is a quick wheel swap instead of a tire shop job.
| Your trim | Factory size | Best winter setup |
|---|---|---|
| LE, XLE | 225/65R17 | Same size on a second set of 17-inch wheels |
| SE, XSE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road, Limited | 225/60R18 | Drop to 17-inch wheels with 225/65R17 tires, or keep 18s |
| Prime SE | 225/60R18 | 225/60R18 on a second set of 18s |
| Prime XSE | 235/55R19 | Drop to 18-inch wheels with 225/60R18 tires |
Why 17-inch for winter: 225/65R17 tires cost less than 18s, the taller sidewall soaks up potholes and ruts better, and they stand almost exactly as tall as the 225/60R18, so your speedometer stays right. Toyota put 17-inch wheels on the LE and XLE, so they fit the regular RAV4 and the Hybrid. The Prime only came on 18s and 19s, so Prime owners should stick to 18-inch wheels for winter. Either way, have the tire shop confirm the fit before you buy wheels.
Step 2: Pick your tire
These are the tires that came out on top in recent independent tests. Tire Rack tested them on a 2025 Camry in a car size, so the scores carry over well to a RAV4 but aren't from a RAV4 itself. Prices are what retailers listed in October 2026 and will move around.
| Tire | Snow score | On the road score | RAV4 sizes it comes in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | 8.33 | 7.08 | 17-inch (use the Blizzak DM-V2 for 18-inch) |
| Michelin X-Ice Snow | 8.25 | 7.58 | 18-inch (use the X-Ice Snow SUV for 17-inch) |
| Continental VikingContact 8 | 8.25 | 7.75 | 17, 18, and 19-inch |
| General Altimax Arctic 12 | 7.83 | 7.08 | Check your size |
| Michelin CrossClimate2 (all-weather, for comparison) | 6.25 | 7.50 | 17, 18, and 19-inch |
Scores are out of 10, from Tire Rack's May 2026 test. The Nokian wasn't in that test, so it isn't in this table.
Bridgestone Blizzak
About $165 to $280 a tireThe Blizzak got the highest snow score in Tire Rack's test. Their testers said it felt like a revelation compared with every all-season tire, because they could actually drive the snow course instead of tiptoeing around it.
- Which one: the Blizzak WS90 comes in 225/65R17, about $163 a tire at Discount Tire. For 18-inch wheels, Bridgestone's SUV version, the Blizzak DM-V2, comes in 225/60R18 for about $270 to $280 a tire.
- Best at: getting going in snow. It had the shortest distance to get up to speed in the test.
- Not as good at: it feels a bit soft and slow to steer on dry roads, and there's some hum on smooth pavement.
Michelin X-Ice Snow
About $170 a tire and upThe X-Ice Snow stopped the shortest on snow of every tire in the test, and it was one of only two that stopped on ice in under 40 feet from 12 mph. It also steers better than any other winter tire Tire Rack tried.
- Which one: X-Ice Snow SUV in 225/65R17, listed at about $171 a tire at Mavis. The regular X-Ice Snow comes in 225/60R18, but we couldn't find a current US price for that size.
- Best at: stopping, and feeling sharp on dry roads.
- Not as good at: it's louder than the others, it's the weakest of the group on wet roads, and when it does slide it takes longer to grip again.
Continental VikingContact 8
About $170 a tire and upThe newest tire here, and the most pleasant to live with. It had the best road score in the whole test, winter tires and all-season tires included, and its snow score was nearly as high as the Blizzak's.
- Sizes: it comes in all three RAV4 sizes, which makes it the easy choice if you want to keep your 19-inch Prime XSE wheels. One US retailer listed the 225/65R17 at about $168.
- Best at: a quiet, smooth ride. It's also the only tire in the test with the new ice grip symbol on its side, which means it passed a separate test on ice.
- Not as good at: Tire Rack's drivers found it a little less planted on the snow track than the Blizzak or Michelin.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
About $195 to $210 a tireConsumer Reports rates the Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV its top winter tire for SUVs. Nokian is a Finnish brand that specializes in winter tires.
- Sizes: all three RAV4 sizes. US listings for 225/65R17 were about $195 to $210 a tire.
- Best at: ice. In a 2022 Swedish test it stopped shortest on ice, ahead of the Blizzak and Michelin. That test is older and used earlier versions of some of the tires.
- Also: Consumer Reports says it rolls easily, which helps your gas mileage a little.
What if you don't want two sets?
An all-weather tire like the Michelin CrossClimate2 carries the snowflake symbol and stays on all year, at about $238 a tire in 225/60R18 at Discount Tire. It's much better in snow than a normal all-season tire, but Tire Rack's snow score for it was 6.25, compared with about 8.3 for the real winter tires. Tire Rack's testers said that if you drive on snow and ice regularly, there's no substitute for a winter tire. If you only see snow a few times a year, an all-weather tire is a good middle ground.
All-wheel drive helps you get going, but it doesn't help you stop or turn. That's all down to the tires.
What a full winter setup costs
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Four winter tires, 225/65R17 | $650 to $850 |
| Four 17-inch wheels: used genuine Toyota or new replicas | About $560 to $700 |
| Pressure sensors, mounting, and balancing | Ask your shop, it varies a lot |
The wheel prices come from our wheels and tires guide. Some shops sell complete packages with steel wheels, which cost less and look plainer. The winter set also saves wear on your regular tires, so part of the cost comes back over time.
Buddy's take
Real winters with snow and ice? Buy a second set of 17-inch wheels with Blizzak WS90 or Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV tires. That comes to about $1,200 to $1,550 before pressure sensors and mounting, and it's the biggest safety upgrade you can make to a RAV4 in snow country.
Want the quietest ride all winter? Get the Continental VikingContact 8. You give up only a little snow grip.
Have a Prime XSE and want to keep the 19s? The VikingContact 8 and the Nokian both come in 235/55R19.
Only a few snow days a year? An all-weather tire like the CrossClimate2 on your regular wheels is enough for most people.
Still to come
Studded tires, chain and traction tire laws by state, and our own winter tire review are next.
- Snow and road scores and test details from Tire Rack's "All-Weather vs. Winter Tires" test, published May 4, 2026, run on a 2025 Toyota Camry in 215/55R17.
- Consumer Reports' pick of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV as reported by Quartz and Jalopnik. The 2022 ice test from ViBilagare via Tire Reviews.
- Which sizes each tire comes in from Tire Rack's tire pages, checked October 7, 2026.
- Prices from retailer listings found October 7, 2026, including Discount Tire, Mavis, TFS Wheels, and eBay. Prices change often, so check before you buy.
- Factory tire sizes from Toyota's 2023 and 2024 RAV4 brochures.
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