This report concerns a 2008 Toyota Highlander limited that was purchased new as a dealer leftover. The vehicle has just over 20,000 miles and the toyo open country A20 tires are shredding and have pieces of the tread missing. This is on all four tires. The tires are P245/55R19 with a dot number cxhh-DK80508. I have not yet contacted toyo, however from other complaints noted, it does not seem that the manufacturer will willingly accept the defect of premature wear of this tire. The tire size is unique, which causes the replacement cost to be much higher than more standard sizes.

- Medford, NJ, USA

Tire falling apart and flaking including premature wearing on factory oem toyo open country 245-55X19 A20 tires which were on my 2008 Toyota Highlander purchase brand new on Jul 2008. Approximate current mileage is 20,195. All tires are showing the same abnormal wear as verified by Toyota dealer. There are numerous online complaints of similar owners with pictures of the unusual wearing. Mine are worse than are described as concurred by Toyota service advisors.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander equipped with toyo open country at tires, size P245/55R19. The contact stated that all four tires were chipping away on the shoulder of the inside. While drivign 35 mph, the tire pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the tires were inspected and the chipping was discovered. The contact called the tire manufacturer who advised her to take the vehicle to their tire dealer. The contact did not feel comfortable driving the vehicle to the dealer with the defective tires. The tires had not been replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

- Warsaw, VA, USA

Greetings. I am writing to you regarding my 2008 Highlander sport, serial number [xxx]. specifically, I am writing about the oem tires, toyo open country, dot cxhh, DK82508. As of today, I have 23, 897 miles on the vehicle; and the tires are completely worn out to a point below the wear bars, which indicates that they must be replaced now. When I purchased the vehicle in October 2008, I purchased the Toyota maintenance program, so the tires are rotated and balanced (if necessary) every 5,000 miles when I also change the oil. I am a 46 year old father of three small children, with no moving violations, tickets or accidents. I tell you this about my life to indicate the type of conservative driver that I am. I have conducted extensive research online and have identified the lowest price for a set of four tires at $759.88, which will actually more expensive during the buy due to the TPMS system, the necessity for an alignment when replacing four tires, and tax. I realize that tire replacement is just one part of the overall maintenance requirement for a vehicle. However, tires on a $33,000 vehicle should provide far more mileage than 24,000 miles. In fact, if you have the time-I invite you to go the blog titled Toyota nation, where all of the writers consistently make disparaging remarks about Toyota?S cheap tire selection. So much in fact, writers discuss various methods for overcoming the burden of finding a suitable, well-priced replacement when there are only three companies who make the 245/55-R19. Those companies are toyo, Bridgestone and hankook. Most writers convert to a larger tire or a smaller tire with new wheels, which of course affects not only the speedometer/odometer readings, but more importantly performance and possibly safety of the vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Oviedo, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander equipped with toyo open country tires, size P245/55/R19. The contact stated all 4 tires on the vehicle, including the spare, exhibited tread separation. The dealer performed an alignment yet the failure persisted. The vehicle and tire manufacturers were contacted and neither would provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000 and the current mileage was approximately 27,000.

- Benicia, CA, USA

Have the Bridgestone tires stock that come with the 2008 Highlander. They didn't even make it 28000 miles. While looking up the tire on the manufacturers site, they don't even have a mileage rating. We complained to the Toyota customer care site and never received so much as an acknowledgment. Complained to the Toyota dealership and were told that Toyota sacrifices the mileage of their tire so that we get a better riding tire. In other words, tough.

- Rumford, RI, USA

The 245-55X19 toyo open country A20 tires Toyota specs on Highlander limited models are utterly treacherous on ice or snow. Edmunds.com documents a huge number of winter traction complaints under used cars> Toyota> 2008> Highlander limited> customer comments. In my own case, starting under 15 mmph I slid under 8 lanes of interstate viaduct, anti-lock brakes pulsing all the while, before my car stopped. The toyos are 1 of only 2 tires from any mfr in the size noted, the other being a Bridgestone with equally horrific ice/snow traction ratings at tirerack and discount tire. Toyota refuses any assistance, saying the tires are tire manufacturer warranted. The problem? I would be getting exactly the same tire again, and the A20 tire is the problem to begin with. I replaced the toyo's with another make and size at 15,900 miles (for $900) and they transformed my Highlander completely winter traction-wise. This toyo tire needs to be banned entirely, yet Toyota continues to spec them on new vehicles.

- Lisle, IL, USA

Stock tires on 2008 Toyota Highlander limited are unsafe.

- Yreka, CA, USA

Poor tires on my 2008 Toyota Highlander sport edition. Excessive wear and need to be replaced at 22K miles. They are the Bridgestone 245/55/R19.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

2008 Toyota Highlander purchased used Toyota certified 9-3-09 fails to shift into gear. Most occurrences at low speed after slowing to 5mph vehicle does not respond to gas pedal - or will not engage into gear and move forward. This occurs or is most noticeable at slow speeds when the gas pedal is pushed after having slowed down or in the midst of a turn into a parking spot. Wife has also complained about transmission not engaging into gear when car is first started up acts like you didn't shift it into gear. We have also noted transmission doesn't always seem to disengage when slowing from highway speeds 55 mph. Feels like it is dragging car to stop. There is a noticeable whine between 55 - 62 mph. Talked to dealer mechanic and he said that was normal everything is controlled by computers. We are going to take it back in this week and complain about the transmission slippage. We have also had a issue with the toyo tires. At 28,345 they were down to 5/32 to 4/32. They have major problems in snow and heavy rain with loss of traction. When ESC kicks on in the snow on a turn do to sliding at slow speed it makes matters worse be better off with it turned off.

- Mccordsville, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander sport. The contact stated that one of the lug nuts on the tire had rusted. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the lug needed to be replaced. There has been no replacement of the lug nut at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000. The current mileage was 27,806.

- Fallbrook, CA, USA

Toyota Highlander (2008) with toyo A20 tires. Extremely high wear with low mileage; car hydroplanes with minimal wet road surface, power wheels lose traction, even with slow start. The toyo tire treads are almost worn off at 23000 miles; when in normal driving, one should expect 45000 miles. This is a very poor quality oem tire, and should be recalled.

- Cupertino, CA, USA

I ask because today had a horrible experience with Toyota. They told me my shredding, bald tires are safe and nothing wrong with them. Called toyo who makes the tires and they offered me 50 percent discount on new tires and tire place said car wouldn't pass inspection...all this when an hour earlier Toyota dealership said everything is safe and sent me off with a safety inspection report saying all is well... from what I see online, it seems like hundreds of customers dealing with same 2008 vehicles with only 10-18K miles on tires that are shredding and bald. Personally I think this could be another Toyota example of turning the other way. From reading consumers stories and comments online I am afraid this could result in more injuries than the whole brake situation. Appreciate anything you can do to draw some attention to this. The dealership I went to was: Toyota of braintree 781 848 9300 customer service manager bob hadges service manager bob sullivan

- Braintree, MA, USA

The contact owns toyo open country A20 tires, size 245/55/R19, dot# cxhhdk84607. While the contact was having her vehicle inspected she noticed that all 4 tires were experiencing adnormal tread wear. The tires were taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the tires were experiencing normal wear. There were no prior warnings and the current and failure mileages were 30000. Updated 4/28/10 updated 06/11/10.

- Groveland, MA, USA

My wife's 2008 Toyota Highlander sport with 19" rims came with Bridgestone dueler H/L 400 tires. This tire happens to be the only tire made to fit this rim other than a Toyota open country which apparently was standard on the hybrid model. We found this tire to be unfit and unsafe for a 4,500 lb vehicle of this scale. These tires hydroplan in rain from the moment they were new, and they handled terribly in any amount of snow, causing the rear of our 4WD vehicle to slide sideways when starting from simple stops. On several occasions we held our breath as we slid toward vehicles and property while the stability control system tried in vain to overcome the tire's very poor handling characteristics. If you go to tirerack.com you will see that this tire is rated extremely poorly by many many owners of Highlanders and other cars that they came standard on. When I contacted Toyota about this, they balked at me, and copped an attitude when they asked if I seriously thought Toyota was going to replace my tires for me. These tires are unsafe for any vehicle which will travel in snow or rain. The final insult of these tires is that they were more than three-quarters worn out by 15,000 miles. We milked these tires until almost 30,000 miles since I refused to buy the same tire again, hoping some other manufacturer would come along with a similar sized tire - 245/55-19. That never happened, so I went with a 255 width tire and brought a well rated hankook. I could not be happier. I am just incensed that Toyota colluded with Bridgestone to install such terribly cheap and unsafe tires on thousands of Highlanders, stranding all those owners to suffer the same instability issues as we did, while they did not work with any other tire vendors to supply this distinctive tire design. I am not sure who I hold in more contempt - Bridgestone or Toyota. I do not doubt that you could research vehicle crashes involving Highlanders and find many caused by poor traction.

- Hanover, MA, USA

Toyo A20 open country tires in 245/55R19 size wear prematurely with potential loss of traction and control. Drivers unaware of the fact these tires wear out in less than 20,000 miles may fail to check them for wear soon enough. These tires are the oem tires used on the 2008 Toyota Highlander sport model and probably some other Toyota models and model years as well. The 2008 vehicle owners will be the first to report problems. This blog on consumer reports details the problems. blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/04/Toyota-Highlander-how-to-choose-the-best-replacement-tire-.html Toyota dealers are offering no compensation or replacement assistance and this size tire is unique so that only two firms offer replacements - toyo and Bridgestone. The Bridgestone oem tires in this size may have the same wear and traction problems.

- Oak Ridge, TN, USA

I own a 2008 Toyota Highlander limited. After driving 25K miles, I noticed a vibration in my steering. I then noticed my tires tread on all 4 tires worn down to almost 2/32" of tread depth remaining. I have original tires: Open country A20 P 245/55R19 103S. I called toyo tire consumer relations dept. And they said there is no mileage warranty on the original equipment. They offer 30% discount on new set of tires installed at tire dealer center. New tires, after discount will cost about $900, but they on the back order and become available only by the end of December 2009. I forced to keep driving my car with bad tires.they don't offer any replacement tires for this odd size, manufactured only for this car. These tires create a hazard to me, my family and public safety, especially driving in the North-East areas. I have never had a new vehicle that need new tires when it is barely two years old. I try to replace this tires before I have an incident. I have noticed numerous complaints about these tires on various web sites. All Toyota Highlander owners very disappointed and lost. Many try to change tire size to more common used, which will void power-train warranty and could create more of safety problems. I hope you find this situation very disturbing and potentially safety hazardous and will lead to your investigation and correction.

- Tuckahoe, NY, USA

We have leased a 2008 Toyota Highlander for 22 months. The toyo a 20 tires are so worn with normal driving they will not pass state inspection. Numerous complaints appear online regarding this matter. No one wants to take responsibility for this matter. There is obviously a defect with tire or car.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

Known defects of toyo tires on 2008 Toyota Highlander. Tires shred tread in little pieces. Toyota dealer has a sheet describing the details. Toyo knew the tires were defective. They waited until the owner noticed and complained. The tires wear out very quickly. The tires should have been recalled and replaced. Instead toyo applied their warranty. With 80% credit, my costs were$252.25 since the tires were known to be defective, they should have been replaced at no charge to me.

- Eugene, OR, USA

Tire flaking and prematurely wearing.

- Cabin John, MD, USA