Checkpoint

I put 235/70R16 on my '02 Highlander (very similar vehicle) with no clearance problems at all. You will lose a little load carrying capacity with 235/65R16, but again probably not a problem. Going to 17" will be expensive since that means new rims (17" tires need 17" rims). You probably have a brand new spare - most people forget about that - and you might get away less expensively by matching that, buying only 3 new and putting the best old tire as spare. Technically, your spare should be the same size as the tires on the ground (AWD). Finally, don't do anything that requires spacers. There are just too many reasons they are a bad idea, from lug nuts being maybe too short to changing alignment dimensions to subjecting components such as bearings to forces that they weren't designed to handle.

<< Look at all of the new SUVs and trucks that come from the factory with Goodyear Wranglers or plain Bridgestone Duelers. Both are horrible tires that should never have seen the light of day. >> Sorry, but I just can't stand the perpetuation of such ignorance. You must be confusing the Firestone Wilderness AT with the Goodyear Wrangler RT/S. Now the Wilderness (in 2 sizes) was a BAD tire. So which Goodyear Wrangler is so awful? Is it the Wrangler RT/S? In P-metric or LT sizes or both? Is it Wrangler AP? Wrangler AT? Is it Wrangler GS-A? Is it Wrangler HP? Wrangler AT/S? Wrangler HT? Wrangler ST? Wrangler MT/R? Wrangler SR-A? Wrangler Silent Armor? In P-Metric or LT sizes/constructions or both? Could there possibly be so many applications that all are/were needed at one time or the other? Could it be possible that the very dangerous person with a little but not enough knowledge could put a tire into the wrong application and get a bad result? There's no such thing as a really bad tire being fitted to a new vehicle these days. The car manufacturers provide a specification. The tire manufacturers build tires which comply, at a minimum, to these specs. Turns out that the very most expensive tire you can buy is good for maybe 15,000 miles if you're careful and the longest wearing tires ride like rocks. There is always a compromise to be made and there is always someone to disagree with that compromise. Tires are not simply round and black. In mho, Tire Rack personnel are better educated in the subject and generally offer the best recommendations. If you have the time to do the research, their website is well stocked with user reviews of the tires. It is probably worth a few dollars more to purchase them from a reputable local dealer for service and support issues.

================ No need for personal attacks on this subject. An individual's evaluation of the "best" tire has a lot of room for what's personally important to that individual .. there are even white letter tires available for the RX. FWIW, the Michelin's are a softer riding tire than either Alenza or Goodyear RSA, and that is an important issue for many RX owners. I chose Alenza for the reasons being stated but had to drop pressure to 30psi to improve the ride (though I would have preferred 35 for a little better handling and fuel economy). I would still like to hear from someone trying the slightly oversize 255/55R18 Goodyear Response Edge.

I think I heard a new v4 DVD is scheduled by the end of April. I would certainly insist on a demo of it, though, since there's no guarantee that the new roads will be there. The location of the ECU is in the rear, mol forward of where the tonneau cover is stored.

If staying with stock 235/55R18 size, I agree about the Alenza vs Michelin or Goodyear RSA. But something must be happening at Bridgestone since tha Alenza is back-ordered everywhere. If cosidering an upsize, you might look at Goodyear Response Edge in 255/55R18. Tire Rack's customer reviews of the tire all acclaim ride comfort and handling, and it's less money than the Michelins.