17-inch vs 18-inch wheels on a RAV4: what the tire numbers mean, and which size to pick

The 2019 to 2025 RAV4 came on tire sizes like 225/65R17 and 225/60R18. And if you're a new owner, nobody really explains what those numbers mean. And when people say "drop to 17s for winter," it sounds like the tire gets smaller, but the tire actually stays the same height.

In this guide I'll go through how to read a RAV4 tire size and what Toyota's own manual shows. Then I'll cover which wheel size I'd pick for winter and for the rest of the year.

How to read a RAV4 tire size, using 225/60R18

The tire size is printed on the side of every tire, and it's also on the sticker inside the driver's door. Here's what each part of 225/60R18 means:

• 225 is how wide the tire is, in millimeters.
• 60 is how tall the rubber sidewall is, as a percentage of that width. So 60 percent of 225 mm is 135 mm, or about 5.3 inches of sidewall.
• R means radial, which is how every modern car tire is built.
• 18 is the diameter of the metal wheel, in inches. So "17 vs 18" is about the wheel, not the tire.

Basically, the whole tire's height is the wheel plus two sidewalls, one above the wheel and one below. The 225/60R18 tire comes out to about 28.6 inches tall. And the 225/65R17 tire has a taller sidewall, about 5.8 inches, so it comes out to about 28.5 inches tall.

So the 225/65R17 and 225/60R18 tires are only about a tenth of an inch apart in height. That means your speedometer reads the same and your ground clearance stays the same. And on an all-wheel drive RAV4, the all-wheel drive system doesn't notice the change.

Dropping to 17s just means a smaller wheel wrapped in taller rubber, and the whole tire stays the same height.

What Toyota's owner's manual lists for the RAV4 Hybrid's 17-inch and 18-inch wheels

Here are the two factory sizes from the 2023 to 2025 RAV4 Hybrid owner's manual (pages 502 to 504):

The earlier RAV4 Hybrid owner's manual shows the same two sizes and the same 17-inch spare (pages 681 to 683). Now two numbers in that table are worth knowing about.

First, every 2019 to 2025 RAV4 Hybrid trim carries its spare on a 17-inch wheel, even the trims that came on 18s. The 17-inch spare shows that a 17-inch wheel can clear the RAV4 Hybrid's brakes.

But keep in mind that the shape of the spokes matters too, because the spokes have to clear the brake calipers. So I'd still check that the specific 17-inch wheel you buy is listed for your RAV4.

Second, the 102 and 100 after the sizes are the load index, which is how much weight each tire is rated to carry. The 17-inch tire's load index of 102 is higher than the 18-inch tire's 100. So a 225/65R17 carries at least as much weight as the factory 18-inch tires.

And the recommended pressure isn't the same on every RAV4 Hybrid. The 17-inch versions list 33 or 36 psi, and the 18-inch versions list 33 psi. So after a size change, I'd go by the sticker inside your driver's door or ask the tire shop what pressure fits the new size.

Which trims got which size is in the factory wheels and tires table in my wheels and tires guide. On the RAV4 Hybrid, the LE and XLE came on 17s, and the SE, XSE, XLE Premium, Limited and Woodland Edition came on 18s.

On the gas RAV4, the LE and XLE came on 17s, and the 2020 to 2024 TRD Off-Road came on 18s. And the gas XLE Premium, Adventure and Limited came on 19s. Those gas trims on 19s carry an 18-inch spare (2023 to 2025 gas RAV4 owner's manual, pages 492 to 496).

The RAV4 Prime is the exception

The RAV4 Prime has bigger brakes than the RAV4 Hybrid. One RAV4 Prime owner on RAV4World was told by Tire Rack that 17-inch wheels won't clear the Prime's brakes.

And Prime owners who did fit 17-inch wheels report the wheels do clear the brakes, but only just. One Prime SE owner measured just 3/8 inch between a 17-inch wheel and the brake calipers. You can also see a white RAV4 Prime on 17-inch Reika R30 wheels in my wheels gallery.

So on a RAV4 Prime, I'd stay with 18s unless a tire shop confirms your exact wheel clears the brakes.

Also, this page covers the 2019 to 2025 RAV4 only. The 2026 RAV4 is a new generation, so none of these sizes or spare details carry over to the 2026 RAV4.

Which wheel size to pick for a RAV4 winter set

If your RAV4 came on 17s, I'd stay with 17s. I don't really see a reason to go up to 18-inch wheels for winter. The 18-inch winter wheels and tires cost more, and you'd give up sidewall right when you want the most cushion.

If your RAV4 came on 18s, I'd drop to 17-inch wheels for the winter set. That covers the RAV4 Hybrid SE, XSE, XLE Premium, Limited and Woodland Edition, plus the gas TRD Off-Road. And there are a few reasons I'd make that switch.

• The 17-inch winter tires usually cost less. For example, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 runs about $270 to $280 a tire in 225/60R18. And 17-inch winter tires typically run less than that.
• You get more tires to choose from. The top winter tires come in 225/65R17, including the Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV.
• The taller sidewall gives you more cushion. The 17-inch tire's extra half inch of rubber soaks up frozen ruts and potholes better. And that extra sidewall lowers the chance of bending a wheel or cutting a tire.
• The 17-inch wheels usually cost less. In the same style, a 17-inch wheel generally costs less than an 18-inch wheel.

And plenty of owners whose RAV4s came on 18s have switched to 17-inch winter sets. A 2022 RAV4 Hybrid SE owner on RAV4World came on 225/60R18s and went with Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 winter tires in 225/65R17. That owner wanted the higher sidewall for a softer ride, and found 17-inch winter wheels "significantly cheaper" than 18s.

A RAV4 Limited owner in the same thread ordered a 225/65R17 winter set on 17-inch wheels too, and said going one inch smaller costs less. And on RedFlagDeals, owners told a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid Limited buyer that 225/65R17 winter tires on 17 x 7 wheels would fit.

Now for width, I'd stay at 225 mm for a winter set. Basically, a narrower tire cuts down through snow to the road, while a wider tire tends to float on top of the snow.

And I'd stick with 17s rather than going down to 16-inch wheels. Tire Rack does list 16-inch wheels for the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid XSE, but the brakes differ by year and trim. So if you want 16s, confirm with the seller's fitment check for your exact year and trim.

Something to note is that a second set of wheels also saves money every fall and spring. Without a second set, a shop has to take your tires off the wheels and mount the other tires twice a year. By my own rough math, at about $25 a tire, that's around $200 a year.

But with each set of tires on its own wheels, a swap is just bolting on the other set. Some tire chains, like Les Schwab, do seasonal swaps free when your tires are mounted on their own wheels. So a set of winter wheels can pay for itself over a few winters. My guide to a second set of wheels for your RAV4's winter tires goes through the costs, hubcaps and the lug nuts.

Before you buy winter wheels, check the finish, the offset, the center hole and the tire pressure sensors. Basically, those decide whether a wheel sits right on a RAV4 and whether the tire pressure warning still works with the winter set.

I cover all of that in the fit facts in my RAV4 wheels gallery. And if your gas RAV4 came on 19s, my snow tires guide covers which winter size I'd pick for the 19-inch trims. And for which winter tire to put on those wheels, take a look at my guide to the best snow tires for the RAV4.

17-inch vs 18-inch wheels for the rest of the year

Outside of snow season, the difference between 17s and 18s mostly comes down to ride, look and tire price.

On mileage, Toyota rates the RAV4 Hybrid LE on 17s and the RAV4 Hybrid XSE on 18s exactly the same. Both get 41 mpg city, 38 highway and 39 combined in the 2024 RAV4 eBrochure.

So the wheel size alone doesn't change the RAV4 Hybrid's mpg rating. But a heavier wheel or a chunky all-terrain tire can lower the mileage you actually get. For example, the 2024 RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition comes on all-terrain tires, and it's rated lower, at 38 city, 35 highway and 37 combined.

And if you want the rugged all-terrain look, 17-inch wheels are the place to start. A 245/65R17 all-terrain tire is the sweet spot on a RAV4. I go through what fits in the 245/65R17 section of my wheels and tires guide.

What owners say after switching between 17-inch and 18-inch wheels

Keep in mind each of these is one owner's experience from a forum, so they're a rough guide rather than a test.

• Owner report: a taller sidewall gave one owner a softer ride. On RAV4World, a RAV4 owner who came on 17s fitted 16-inch wheels with 235/65R16 tires and reported a "much better ride and quieter." I still wouldn't go below 17s on a 2019 to 2025 RAV4 because of brake clearance. But that owner's report shows how much the sidewall matters.
• Owner report: a RAV4 Prime SE owner agreed taller sidewalls ride softer. A RAV4 Prime SE owner in the same RAV4World thread agreed that taller sidewalls soften the ride.
• Owner report: one owner picked 17-inch winter tires for the softer ride. The 2022 RAV4 Hybrid SE owner I mentioned above chose 225/65R17 winter tires partly for the softer ride from the higher sidewall.
• Owner report: one owner found the tires make the noise, not the wheels. In a 2016 RAV4World thread about the previous generation RAV4, one owner said the wheel size only changes ride comfort. That owner said the tires are what make the noise.
• Owner report: one owner fixed a firm, noisy ride with a tire swap on 18s. A UK owner of the previous generation RAV4 posted on the Toyota Owners Club that many owners found the factory 18-inch Bridgestone Dueler tires noisy and firm. After switching to Michelin CrossClimate tires, that owner found the CrossClimate tires "quieter, a more compliant ride."
• Previous generation review: Edmunds preferred the 17-inch wheels on the 2017 RAV4. Edmunds reviewed the 2017 RAV4, which is the generation before 2019. In that review, Edmunds preferred the XLE's 17-inch wheels to the "less forgiving" 18-inch wheels and tires on the Limited.

So ultimately, most owners find 17s ride a little softer than 18s. But for road noise, the tire model you pick matters more than the wheel size. My guide to RAV4 road noise goes through quieter tire options.

More wheels and tires guides

RAV4 wheels and tires: sizes, bigger tires, and new looks

What came on each trim, the biggest tire that fits without a lift, and the cheapest ways to change your wheels.

Buying RAV4 tires at Les Schwab: free changeovers, the warranty and what it really costs

Here's what Les Schwab does free with tires you buy there, in Les Schwab's own words, what still costs money, the tread warranty fine print, and what to ask your store before you buy.

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RAV4 all-terrain tires: what fits, what they cost in mpg, and the warranty

You want all-terrain tires on your RAV4. Here's the biggest size that fits your wheels without a lift, how much mpg you'll give up, and what all-terrains and a lift mean for your warranty.

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Best replacement tires for the RAV4, picked by what you need

Your factory tires are wearing out and you want the right set. Here's which tire to buy for snow, for the most miles per dollar, and for a quiet ride that's easy on mpg, in your RAV4's exact size.

Should you buy a second set of wheels for your RAV4's winter tires? Cost, hubcaps and what to know

Here's when a winter wheel set pays for itself, what hubcaps are and whether they make sense, and the lug nut, hub ring, sensor and spare tire details most RAV4 owners only learn at the tire shop.

Rugged tires in winter: can the overland look handle snow and ice?

What owners report on ice and snow, every test that compared an all-terrain with a winter tire on the same day, and how to keep the rugged look with real winter tires.

The best snow tires for the RAV4

Which winter tires came out on top in testing, the right size for your trim, and what a winter wheel set costs.

RAV4 wheels gallery: real builds by wheel finish

Here is how different wheels and tires look on a real RAV4, with the setup and fit details for each one.

See all wheels and tires guides