How To Choose Tires For Minivans

‍What Kind of Tires do Minivans Use?

Minivans use tires with mid-level tread and high sidewalls. In most cases, older minivans use taller tires and smaller wheels. Over the years, thick tires and small wheels have fallen out of favor.

Today, most new minivans use larger wheels and shorter tires with wider tread patterns for better traction. However, minivans aren’t as picky as sports cars or sedans, and you can use a wide range of tire types safely.

Minivan tires prioritize comfort and traction over performance. Minivans are usually top-heavy vehicles with minimal power and poor acceleration, which makes it possible to design a suspension and wheel system that absorbs bumps.

Minivan Tire and Wheel Sizes

Most minivans have 15-inch, 16-inch, or 17-inch rims. This leaves plenty of room for big tires, which are a key contributor to ride comfort and smooth handling.

The tires used on minivans are similar in size to those used on small pickup trucks and older cars and share virtually nothing in common with sedan and coupe tires.

As an example, we’ll look at a few popular minivans. The 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan has 17-inch wheels and a tire size of 225/65/17. An early-2000s Ford Windstar minivan with 15-inch wheels uses 205/70/15 tires, and the same vehicle with 16-inch wheels uses 225/60/16 tires.

You can find your tire size by checking the label on the sidewall of the tire. Additionally, you can find your factory wheel size, tire size, and tire pressure on the information decal located on the inner wall of the driver-side door.

Types of Minivan Tires

Minivan tires are manufactured by all major tire brands and come in several different varieties. All-season (or A/S) tires, which are rated for use in all mild weather conditions, are the most common and used throughout the country.

These tires, which work well on dry pavement, wet roads, and in light snow, are an ideal choice for everyday driving in most states. But there are numerous other options that may be better suited for your driving needs.

Minivan Winter Tires

Winter tires for minivans come in two primary configurations: studded and studless. Studded minivan tires have metal studs implanted in the tread every few inches. These sharp steel beads break ice and packed snow for improved acceleration and shorter stopping distances.

Studded tires are ideal (and sometimes necessary) for minivans that operate in extremely cold and icy climates. However, they’re very loud, and they cause damage to roads, so some states ban their use during warmer seasons.

 Studless winter minivan tires are legal everywhere year-round, and they utilize cold-resistant rubber compounds and high-traction tread. These tires are much better than all-season or summer tires in the winter but not quite as good as studded tires.

Minivan Summer Tires

Summer tires provide the best grip and performance on dry pavement. Minivan owners who live in desert climates, such as southern Arizona, West Texas, and New Mexico, often prefer these tires.

Summer tires are better suited for extreme heat and provide the best surface grip. Summer tires have more road contact and often softer rubber than winter tires, so they don’t last quite as long. But they’re safe and affordable and provide good stopping distances.

Summer tires offer great fuel economy and even wear for both front and rear-wheel-drive vehicles, though they should still be rotated at regular intervals. They’re also affordable and available at most tire shops.

 Minivan Tires for Off-Road Driving

Many minivan owners live on gravel or dirt roads, and some areas have much less (or dirtier) pavement than others. There’s a tire type that’s ideal for these conditions, and it’s called an all-terrain tire. These tires reduce the likelihood of getting stuck in the mud or losing control on loose road surfaces.

Minivan all-terrain (or A/T) tires have more aggressive tread than standard highway tires. They also use softer rubber, which molds to uneven surfaces on dirt and gravel roads. All-terrain tires can help you enjoy excellent traction and increased safety on camping trips, dirt driving, and gravel.

All-terrain tires have a few notable drawbacks. For one, they’re notoriously bad in the snow—especially in particularly cold weather. The softer rubber compounds commonly found in A/T tires also reduces their lifespan when compared to standard highway tires or winter tires.

True off-road tires are not widely available for minivans, as the design of the vehicle itself limits its off-road use. However, there are a few companies that make aggressive off-road tires that will fit on your van. But A/T tires are usually the best choice, as they offer great off-road and on-highway performance.

Front-Wheel-Drive vs. Rear-Wheel-Drive Minivan Tires

The vast majority of minivans are front-wheel-drive (FWD) and use the same drivetrain as similar-sized sedans. This is because front-wheel-drive offers superior economy and control, especially in winter weather conditions.

But there are a few rear-wheel-drive (RWD) minivans out there and a few all-wheel-drive (AWD) models as well. So what are the different tire requirements for these drivetrains?

Front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive minivans can use the same kinds of tires, and the maintenance intervals are the same. However, rear-wheel-drive minivan tires may wear out quicker, as there’s less weight on the drive wheels and thus more opportunities to spin out.

All-wheel-drive minivan tires wear much faster than two-wheel-drive models. This is because the vehicle puts power to all four wheels, and drive wheels always wear faster than non-drive wheels. AWD minivans have shorter tire maintenance and rotation intervals.

Safest Minivan Tire Types

The safest tires for driving in slush, snow, and ice are studded or studless winter tires with a snowflake rating for severe weather. For mild and warm wet weather conditions, the safest tires are all-season (A/S) tires. All-terrain tires are best for dirt and gravel roads, and summer tires are safest for hot and dry conditions.

Maintenance Tips for Longer Tire Life

Minivan tires, regardless of the type, should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to ensure even wear and maximum tire life. The story changes for AWD minivans, which should have their tires rotated and checked every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Minivan tires last between 30,000 and 50,000 miles, depending on the type, rubber composition, and driving style. Tire tread depth should be checked every time you get the tires rotated. You should replace your van’s tires every six years or when the tire tread depth goes below 3 or 3.5 millimeters.