2012 Toyota highlander tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2012 Toyota Highlander, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245/65R17 OEM | R17 | 5x114.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 245/65R17 OEM | 7.5x17 | 5x114.3 | 35mm | 105 | S |
| 245/55R19 | 7.5x19 | 5x114.3 | 35mm | 103 | S |
| 245/60R18 | 7.5x18 | 5x114.3 | 35mm | 105 | H |
| 245/55R19 OEM | R19 | 5x114.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2012 Toyota highlander wheel bolt pattern & specs
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x114.3 |
|---|---|
| Wheel thread / lug size | M12x1.5 |
| Center bore | 60.1 mm |
| Source | bolt-pattern.com |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
See the best tires for the Toyota Highlander, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Toyota Highlander →
Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every Toyota Highlander factory size →
Compatible alternative sizes for 245/65R17
Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.
| Alternative size | %Δ OD | Category | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
215/80R16 |
0.01% | winter narrower | Safe |
265/60R17 |
-0.07% | wider | Safe |
225/65R18 |
-0.08% | plus 1 | Safe |
265/65R16 |
0.08% | alternative | Safe |
245/70R16 |
-0.12% | alternative | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 245/65R17 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.
Check a different size against this vehicle
Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 245/65R17 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 225/65R18; one rim size up, -0.08% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 245/55R19; two rim sizes up, 0.24% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.
Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.
How to choose tires for the 2012 toyota highlander
The 2012 Toyota Highlander ships from the factory on 245/65R17 tires mounted on R17 wheels. 3 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.
Tire choice on the Toyota Highlander comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.
For 2012 Toyota Highlander owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.
Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 2012 Toyota Highlander, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.
NHTSA-reported issues for 2012 toyota highlander
Top issue category: TPMS
Most reported: TPMS (3) · Tires (General) (2)
Reported across: 2012 – 2012 (1 year)
What owners described
Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 18% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 114 reports covering every model year of the Toyota Highlander that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.
| Reported problem | This subject | All tire complaints | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowout or sudden deflation | 18% | 20% | 0.9× |
| Sidewall failure | 15% | 15% | 1.0× |
| Cracking or dry rot | 12% | 9% | 1.3× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 11% | 8% | 1.3× |
| Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault | 8% | 2% | 3.3× |
| Tread or belt separation | 4% | 13% | 0.3× |
Mileage at failure
80 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 21,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 7,904 and 61,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Toyota Highlander. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S2 TIRES, SIZE: P225/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH OEM TOYO 245/55R19 OPEN COUNTRY M&S 103T TIRES AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON I95 SOUTH BOARD NEAR BRUNSWICK GA (EXIT 38?), A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THEN THE BUMPING MADE IT OBVIOUS A TIRE HAD FAILED SO THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WELL OF THE ROAD NEAR AN EXIT. THE LOCAL STATE HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE TRUCK (CHAMP) STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THE TOYOTA RESPONSE SERVICE TRUCK SHOWED UP ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER - THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND WE PROCEEDED ON OUR WAY - MANY THANKS TO THE "ROAD RANGER" AND HIS TRUCK AND EXPERTISE! THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 28,500 MILES ON THEM - ESTIMATE ABOUT 55%OF ORIGINAL TREAD AND ARE MARKED: DOT 78HH CND 1016. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL THAT CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH ACHILLES DESERT HAWK UHP TIRES, SIZE: 285/40R22 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE SEPARATING FROM ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18T013000 (TIRES). THE CONTACT CALLED TIRE TOWN AUTO SERVICE (LOCATED AT 627 OLD SPANISH TRAIL, SLIDELL, LA 70458, (985) 643-7092) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF TIRE SIDEWALL SPLITTING. I HAVE TRIED EMAILING THE COMPANY TO FIND OUT ABOUT RECALL OR TO GET A REPLACEMENT. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
MY FRONT TIRES, (FROM A SET OF FOUR), HAVE PARTS OF THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE BODY. THE RUBBER UNDER THE MISSING PIECES OF TREAD HAS A TEXTURE LIKE POPCORN. THE INNER SURFACE OF THE RUBBER IS SHINY AND SMOOTH. *DT IT IS NOT FROM GOUGING, FORCE, OR ABUSE TO THE TIRES. IT IS AS IF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS USED TWO DIFFERENT BATCHES OF RUBBER THAT WAS NOT INCORPORATED TOGETHER CORRECTLY, AND IS NOW SEPARATING FROM ITSELF. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! IF A TIRE FAILURE OCCURS FROM THIS DEFECT AT SPEED, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, ROLLOVER, HEAD-ON, SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH. PLEASE REVIEW HIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR PICTURES OF THE DEFECT, SINCE THE WEBSITE HAS NO WAY TO UPLOAD THE PICS.*DT*JB
Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What size tires fit a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
What is the bolt pattern of a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
Can I run a different tire size on my 2012 Toyota Highlander?
Where can I buy tires for my 2012 Toyota Highlander?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2012 Toyota Highlander?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2012 Toyota Highlander?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2012 Toyota Highlander?
For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.
Sources for this page
- Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Toyota Highlander is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2012 Toyota Highlander.
- ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
- Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.
Last verified 2026-10-07.