A second set of wheels for your RAV4's winter tires pays for itself if you buy cheap wheels. Four used factory Toyota 17-inch wheels or four plain 17-inch steel wheels run about $260 to $450. With four Toyota tire pressure sensors added, those cheap wheels pay for themselves in about 3 to 4 winters. That's about the life of one set of winter tires. Budget aluminum wheels from Tire Rack run about $636 to $870 for four and take a few winters longer. Styled off-road wheels run about $800 to $1,640 for four, and the pricier ones still haven't paid for themselves after two sets of winter tires. So you buy styled wheels for the look. Hubcaps are plastic covers that snap over a plain steel wheel. On the 2019 to 2025 RAV4, only the gas LE came with hubcaps.
When you buy winter tires, the tire shop asks a question most people haven't thought about yet. Do you want the winter tires on their own wheels?
If you say no, the shop pulls your regular tires off your wheels every fall and mounts the winter tires. Then they do it all again in spring.
If you say yes, a swap is just unbolting four wheels and bolting on the other four.
In this guide I'll go through what a second set of wheels costs and how long it takes to pay for itself. I'll also cover what hubcaps are and whether they make sense. And I'll get into the things most people don't know to ask until they're standing at the counter.
Does a second set of wheels pay for itself?
Without a second set of wheels, a shop has to take the tires off your wheels and mount and balance the other set twice a year. Shops charge about $20 to $40 a tire for that work. By my own rough math, that comes to about $200 a winter, counting both the fall and spring swaps.
With the winter tires on their own wheels, Les Schwab does the swap free when you bought the tires at Les Schwab, wherever the wheels came from. And you can do the swap yourself at home.
Here's what each kind of wheel costs up front and when each one pays for itself at that $200 a winter. The "up front" column adds four Toyota tire pressure sensors, which cost about $60 to $97 each, or about $240 to $390 for four. Winter tires last about 3 to 4 winters, so "after 4 winters" is roughly one set of winter tires and "after 8 winters" is roughly two.
| Wheel choice (four 17-inch wheels) | Four wheels | Up front with four Toyota sensors | Winters to pay for itself | After 4 winters ($800 saved) | After 8 winters ($1,600 saved) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used factory Toyota 17-inch wheels | About $260 to $400 | About $500 to $790 | About 2.5 to 4 | $10 to $300 ahead | $810 to $1,100 ahead |
| Plain 17-inch steel wheels | About $300 to $450 | About $540 to $840 | About 3 to 4 | $40 behind to $260 ahead | $760 to $1,060 ahead |
| Budget 17-inch alloy wheels from Tire Rack | About $636 to $870 | About $880 to $1,260 | About 4.5 to 6 | $80 to $460 behind | $340 to $720 ahead |
| Reika R30 Drifter | About $800 to $960 | About $1,040 to $1,350 | About 5 to 7 | $240 to $550 behind | $250 to $560 ahead |
| KMC KM708 Bully | $1,480 | About $1,720 to $1,870 | About 9 | $920 to $1,070 behind | $120 to $270 behind |
| Fifteen52 Traverse MX | About $1,281 on sale, plus hub rings | About $1,520 to $1,670 | About 8 | $720 to $870 behind | $70 behind to $80 ahead |
| Method 701 | $1,636 | About $1,880 to $2,030 | About 9.5 to 10 | $1,080 to $1,230 behind | $280 to $430 behind |
Keep in mind, the $200 a winter is my own estimate, since the big tire chains don't publish their mount and balance prices. Your shop's real price moves every number in the table, so it's worth asking at the counter.
The budget alloy, KMC, Fifteen52 and Method prices are from Tire Rack's list of wheels for the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid XSE. The budget alloys include the Sport Edition A17 and Sport Tuning ST15 at $159 a wheel and the Konig Tandem at $217.76 a wheel. Tire Rack ships free, but mounting, balancing, sensors and lug nuts cost extra.
Aftermarket tire pressure sensors cost less than Toyota's, which shortens the payback a little. And if you sell the wheels later, that money comes back too.
There's also a plus the table doesn't count. Your regular tires and wheels sit in the garage all winter, so they don't wear down and they stay out of the salt and de-icer.
There's a small chance the tire machine snags a tire pressure sensor or marks the wheel every time a shop pulls a tire off and puts another tire on. With each set of tires on its own wheels, the tires never come off the wheels, so that chance goes away.
Here's what a winter set on its own wheels looks like: four winter tires on plain black steel wheels, ready to bolt on. From 421 Central Iowa's video.
What a winter swap costs at Les Schwab, Discount Tire, Costco and Toyota dealers
- Les Schwab. Les Schwab's tire warranty says "Free seasonal tire changeovers are valid on premounted Covered Tires only," and Covered Tires are the tires on your Les Schwab invoice. So the free swap depends on buying the tires at Les Schwab, and the wheels can come from anywhere. If you bought the winter tires somewhere else, you'll want to ask your store what a swap costs. Les Schwab will also store a set for $124.95 a season, for up to 6 months, through its tire storage service. I go through everything Les Schwab does free, and what still costs money, in my guide to buying RAV4 tires at Les Schwab.
- Discount Tire and America's Tire. Discount Tire's invoice terms say removing or reinstalling winter tires isn't part of its install package, and it's an extra charge that varies by market. Something to note is that Discount Tire doesn't publish the price.
- Costco and Toyota dealers. Neither one publishes a winter swap policy or price, so it's best to call and ask.
Keep in mind that paying a shop for storage changes the math. At $124.95 a season, paying a shop to store your wheels eats up most of the $200 you save. Because of that, the table assumes you keep the wheels at home.
In Oregon, studded tires are legal from November 1 through March 31, according to ODOT. Studless winter tires don't have to follow those dates, but they make a handy calendar. You'll want to book your swap in late October and swap back in April.
What a hubcap is, and which RAV4s came with them
A hubcap, also called a wheel cover, is a big plastic cover that snaps over the whole face of a plain steel wheel. Steel wheels are cheap and tough, but they're plain to look at. So carmakers put a hubcap over the steel wheel to make it look like a nicer wheel.
The hubcap doesn't hold anything up. The hubcap is just there for the look.
An alloy wheel is already finished, so an alloy wheel doesn't need a hubcap. Instead, an alloy wheel just has a small center cap, which is a little disc that pops into the hole in the middle of the wheel. And you can't put a hubcap on an alloy wheel, because the hubcap needs the flat face of a steel wheel to clip onto.
On the 2019 to 2025 RAV4, only the gas LE came with steel wheels and hubcaps. Toyota calls them "17-in. steel wheels with silver 6-spoke wheel covers."
The RAV4 Hybrid LE always came with alloy wheels, and so did every other trim. The 2026 RAV4 is hybrid only, and the 2026 LE comes on 17-inch alloy wheels.
If you're putting together a set of steel winter wheels, you can buy the hubcaps on their own:
- Toyota's own 2019 to 2025 RAV4 wheel cover. The part number is 42602-0R040 for RAV4s built in North America and 42602-42040 for RAV4s built in Japan. Toyota Parts Now lists that cover at about $71 each. The label on the driver's door jamb shows where your RAV4 was built.
- Aftermarket covers. Hub Cap Haven sells a set of four aftermarket 17-inch covers for $109.95. That same shop also sells Toyota's own cover used for $69.95 each.
Some owners skip hubcaps on their steel winter wheels and just leave the black steel showing. On r/rav4club, one owner covered the bare center of each steel wheel with a center cap from a 2001 to 2007 Toyota Highlander, held on by the lug nuts.
Steel wheels with hubcaps for winter: the good and the bad
The good:
- Steel wheels are the cheapest. A 17-inch steel wheel runs about $70 to $155, compared with about $240 to $410 for a styled alloy wheel.
- Steel bends instead of cracking. When a pothole hits a steel wheel hard, the wheel is more likely to bend than crack. A bent steel wheel can often be pressed back into shape.
- Hubcaps are cheap to replace, at about $28 to $71 each.
The bad:
- Steel rusts. Steel wheels rust at the edges and under chipped paint over the years. The hubcap hides it.
- Hubcaps can come off in snow. Heavy snow can knock a hubcap off, and owners on forums have lost hubcaps sliding around in snow.
- Cold plastic can crack. Several wheel cover sellers say cold makes plastic hubcaps more likely to crack.
- Hubcaps look like a base model. That's the trade for the low price.
Weight depends on the kind of alloy wheel. Most budget street alloys on Tire Rack weigh about 20 to 21 lb, which is lighter than a 17-inch steel wheel at about 25 lb.
The rugged off-road styles are the heavy ones. On Tire Rack, the Method 701 weighs 30.8 lb, the Fifteen52 Traverse MX 25.0 lb and the KMC KM708 24.0 lb, and Reika lists its R30 at 29.7 lb. Those off-road wheels are built strong for lifted trucks.
Which wheels owners and tire pros pick for a RAV4 winter set
Tire pros, winter driving fans and RAV4 owners on forums mostly agree on the cheap route:
- Used factory Toyota wheels. They fit the RAV4's hub exactly and take your factory lug nuts, so there's nothing extra to buy. Just keep in mind Toyota's owner's manual says Toyota doesn't recommend used wheels or bent wheels that have been straightened. If you buy used, it's best to check each wheel for bends and cracks, or have the tire shop check each wheel for you.
- Plain 17-inch black steel wheels. They're the cheapest second set you can put together. Just keep in mind tire techs do complain that steel wheels rust and the tires stick to them.
- Budget alloy wheels and Replika wheels. Tire Rack lists budget 17-inch alloys for the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid XSE from $159 a wheel, like the Sport Edition A17, the Sport Tuning ST15 and the Konig Tandem. Replika wheels are made to look like Toyota's TRD and Woodland wheels, and some come in the RAV4's exact factory size.
Everyday shoppers buy the same wheels, plus hubcaps or wheel skins to dress up the steel wheels. Some buy a complete winter wheel and tire package from Costco, Discount Tire or Tire Rack, which arrives mounted and balanced, ready to bolt on.
For the tires themselves, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 and the Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV come up again and again. I compare the top picks in my RAV4 snow tires guide. If you want a winter tire with a tougher, more rugged look, take a look at my rugged winter tires guide.
For which wheel size to pick, my 17 vs 18-inch wheels guide explains why I'd go with 17s for a winter set. If you want to see styled wheels on real RAV4s, my RAV4 wheels gallery has builds sorted by wheel finish.
Things most people don't know to ask about RAV4 winter wheels
Lug nuts
Toyota's factory alloy wheels and Toyota's steel wheels take different Toyota lug nuts, according to the Toyota parts catalog. Most aftermarket wheels need a different lug nut again, called a 60-degree conical nut. That includes the Reika R30, KMC KM708, Fifteen52 Traverse MX and Method 701.
The conical lug nuts are sold separately, and a RAV4 needs 20 of them. The reason it matters is that a factory lug nut on a wheel built for conical nuts only touches a thin edge, so the factory lug nut can work loose. Toyota's manual says to "only use wheel nuts that have been specifically designed for that wheel."
It's best to keep four of your factory lug nuts in the car with the spare. Toyota's factory lug nuts are the ones Toyota made to fit its steel spare.
Hub rings
The hub on a 2019 to 2025 RAV4 measures 60.1 mm across. Many aftermarket wheels have a bigger center hole, so they need hub rings to center the wheel on the hub and avoid vibration:
- Method 701: 73 mm
- Fifteen52 Traverse MX: 73.1 mm
- KMC KM708: 72.6 mm
- Reika R30: 65.1 mm
Discount Tire says hub rings don't carry any weight and factory wheels don't need them. Some steel wheels, like the RTX 17x7 steel wheel, have a center hole of exactly 60.1 mm. So the RTX steel wheel doesn't need hub rings either.
Torque
Toyota's manual says to tighten the lug nuts to 76 ft-lbf (103 N·m) on every 2019 to 2025 RAV4. You'll want to use a torque wrench, and check the lug nuts again after the first few miles.
Toyota's manual also says to check the lug nuts after 1,000 miles on aluminum wheels. It says never to oil or grease the studs or nuts either.
The spare
Every 2023 to 2025 RAV4 Hybrid carries a 17-inch steel spare, even the trims that come on 18s. That also shows a 17-inch wheel clears the RAV4 Hybrid's brakes.
Some 2019 RAV4s on 18-inch or 19-inch wheels and the 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid carry an 18-inch spare. Toyota's 2026 manual lists two 2026 versions with no spare at all. So it's worth checking under your deck board before winter.
Changing a flat
On a steel wheel with a hubcap, you'll want to pop the hubcap off first. Toyota's manual says the hubcap can't go on the compact spare. So it's best to carry the hubcap in the car until the flat is fixed.
On aftermarket alloy wheels, the set often comes with locking lug nuts. If you lose the key for the locking lug nuts, you can't get the wheel off. It's best to keep the key with the jack.
Load rating
Toyota's manual says replacement wheels have to match the factory wheels in load capacity, size, rim width and offset. An easy number to check against is the factory 18-inch tire, which is rated to carry 1,764 lb. A wheel rated below 1,764 lb is weaker than the tire Toyota put on it.
Pothole damage
A steel wheel tends to bend, and a bent steel wheel can often be straightened. An alloy wheel can bend or crack. A cracked wheel is generally scrapped, and the trade magazine Modern Tire Dealer says welding a crack isn't an approved repair.
Keep in mind Toyota's manual says Toyota doesn't recommend bent wheels that have been straightened.
Warranty and insurance
Putting aftermarket wheels on your RAV4 doesn't void your Toyota warranty. A federal law, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, generally stops a carmaker from tying warranty coverage to its own brand of parts. But Toyota's warranty guide says Toyota doesn't cover damage caused by non-Toyota parts. So if a wheel with the wrong offset wears out a wheel bearing, Toyota can refuse that repair.
Custom wheels may need extra insurance too. Some insurance policies cover custom parts only if you add coverage for them. So a $1,500 set of wheels might not be fully covered if the wheels are stolen, and it's worth a call to your insurance company.
Tire pressure sensors
Each winter wheel needs its own tire pressure sensor, or the tire pressure light stays on all winter. Toyota's own sensors cost about $60 to $97 each on Toyota Parts Now, and the right sensor depends on your RAV4's VIN.
Toyota's manual also says its sensors "may not work properly with non-genuine wheels." How the RAV4 learns the second set of sensors depends on the year, and I go through that in my RAV4 tire pressure light guide.
Center caps on the styled wheels
The Reika R30, KMC KM708, Fifteen52 Traverse MX and Method 701 all have a center cap. Fifteen52's Traverse MX comes with its center cap in the box. For the other three, it's best to ask the seller whether the center cap is included.
Bolt pattern
The RAV4 uses a 5x114.3 bolt pattern on its wheels. The Method 701 comes in 5x114.3, but not every shop carries the Method 701 in that size, and Les Schwab doesn't list it.
The Reika R30 is listed in 5x114.3 by Reika, but one store lists the same size as 5x107.9. So before you order any wheel, it's best to confirm the bolt pattern with the seller.
Questions owners ask about RAV4 winter wheels
Can I just keep my winter tires on all year?
It's best not to. Winter tires use soft rubber, and soft rubber wears out fast in summer heat. My RAV4 snow tires guide covers what to do if you only want one set of tires.
Does the wheel's offset matter?
Yes. Toyota lists the offset right next to the load rating and the size. The wrong offset can make the tire rub, or wear out a wheel bearing faster.
Do I need a different socket for aftermarket lug nuts?
Sometimes. Off-road style wheels often have deep, narrow lug holes, and Toyota's lug wrench may not fit. You'll want to try the wrench on the new wheels in your driveway, before you need it on the side of the road.
Can I put chains on aftermarket wheels?
Toyota allows only small-link chains in the sizes listed in the manual, and only on the front tires. Toyota's manual also warns that chains can damage aluminum wheels.
What finish holds up best to winter salt?
A painted or powder-coated finish holds up better than a polished or machined face. Salt gets in where a stone chip breaks the coating and bubbles up under it. Toyota says to clean wheels with a mild soap and water, rinse right away, and skip acidic or harsh wheel cleaners.
Will my winter wheels pack up with snow?
According to owners, wheels with open spokes and deep dishes can collect snow that freezes into lumps. Those frozen lumps cause a shake until the snow melts. Toyota's manual says to clear ice and snow from around the tires and brakes before you drive.
Buddy's take
If you're buying winter tires for your RAV4, I'd put them on their own set of wheels. Used factory Toyota 17s or plain 17-inch steel wheels pay for themselves in about 3 to 4 winters. And you never have to sit through a mount and balance again.
Hubcaps are a cheap way to dress up steel wheels, but keep in mind they can come off in snow. If you want styled wheels for the look, go for it. Just know that styled wheels take at least two sets of winter tires to pay for themselves, and the pricier ones may never pay for themselves on swap savings alone.
Whatever wheels you pick, you'll want the right lug nuts, hub rings if the wheels need them, and tire pressure sensors. It's also a good idea to keep four factory lug nuts with your spare.
If you have a question, feel free to email me at contact@ravbuddy.com. I read as many messages as I can, and your questions help me improve these guides.
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- Toyota owner's manuals: 2023 to 2025 RAV4 Hybrid (OM0R102U), pages 336, 422 to 423, 476 to 479 and 502 to 504, 2023 to 2025 gas RAV4 (OM0R100U), pages 468 to 470, and 2019 gas RAV4 (OM0R024U). Toyota's 2026 RAV4 manual (OM0R160U) and 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid manual (OM42F96U) for the spare. Toyota's 2019 to 2025 RAV4 brochures and SourceBooks and the 2026 RAV4 press release for which trims came on steel wheels. Toyota's 2025 RAV4 Hybrid Warranty and Maintenance Guide, pages 14 to 15 and 31.
- Parts and prices: Toyota Parts Now wheel cover, steel wheel and lug nuts and tire pressure sensors, Hub Cap Haven, RTX steel wheel listing, Reika, KMC, Fifteen52, Method and retailer listings for wheel prices, weights, center bores and lug seats. Wheel prices are store listings from October 2026 and change often.
- Shops: Les Schwab winter wheels, seasonal changeovers and tire storage, the Les Schwab tire warranty (form FM 702, revised July 2024), Discount Tire invoice terms and hub rings. Oregon studded tire dates from ODOT. The $200 a winter swap saving and the break-even table are my own math.
- Wheel prices and weights for the budget alloys, KMC KM708, Fifteen52 Traverse MX (Asphalt Black) and Method 701: Tire Rack's wheel list for the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid XSE.
- Wheel repair and coverage: Modern Tire Dealer on straightening and welding wheels, Performance Plus Tire on wheel load ratings, Uniroyal on alloy wheels in winter, carinsurance.com on custom parts coverage, and the FTC on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Owner and tire pro picks from r/rav4club, r/tires, r/AskMechanics, Toyota Nation and RAV4World threads.
- Photo: 421 Central Iowa's video.
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