let's play the "What tires for the minivan" game again.

2018 Pacifica, 235/65 R17

The goals are in descending order below

Wet braking -> dry braking -> road noise -> wet handling -> dry handling -> sidewall stiffness ->treadwear -> price

So far it looks like my previously used Cooper CS5 are outmatched by newer competitors for the same or near the same price. Estimating $100 for installation, and accounting for current rebates, here seems the field with a total price:

Vredestein Quatrac Pro - $692

Michelin Crossclimate2 - $732

Pirelli verde scorpion all season plus 2 to the fifth power and add a pi because the name wasn't long enough already - $658

I am interested to know how you would rank these given actual experience, and if you would add any contenders to the mix.

I can't check if it's available in your size, but I always recommend the Continental DWS for all daily drivers.  Outstanding in the wet, very very good in the snow for an all-season (cue smug "no-season" comment here), and still pretty quiet and decent in the dry.

[edit]  Sorry, looks like the closest size is 245/50/17 and that's a full 8% smaller.

Just 4 months ago I bought tires for my newly acquired 2019 Dodge Caravan.  As detailed in that link, my choice was Continentals through tirebuyer.com.  I would buy again.  For me, it was major brand, long wear tires for the price of no-namers.  Happy with the ride and noise (or lack of noise.) 

Specifically I went with Continental True Contact Tour an 80k rated tire.  I searched them for you and current for your size is $137.99 each with $75 rebate or a net of $120.49 each x4 = $481.96 before install and taxes.  

I buy off this site all the time.  Have them shipped to my local place and that place calls me when they arrive, usually the next day, maybe 2 day.  Purchases include 2 yr road hazard also (that I have never had to try to claim on.)

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

I think that is what I put on my daughter's '06 Impala, possibly at your recommendation.  I don't drive her car much but she doesn't complain - and she would.

The continentals that John linked are what I put on my mazda6 30k ago, and just put on moms car. Best tires I've ever owned. And absolutely no measurable wear after 30k on my car.

Duke said:

I can't check if it's available in your size, but I always recommend the Continental DWS for all daily drivers.  Outstanding in the wet, very very good in the snow for an all-season (cue smug "no-season" comment here), and still pretty quiet and decent in the dry.

 

Too bad, they do not. They sidewall is too short.

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Just 4 months ago I bought tires for my newly acquired 2019 Dodge Caravan.  As detailed in that link, my choice was Continentals through tirebuyer.com.  I would buy again.  For me, it was major brand, long wear tires for the price of no-namers.  Happy with the ride and noise (or lack of noise.) 

Specifically I went with Continental True Contact Tour an 80k rated tire.  I searched them for you and current for your size is $137.99 each with $75 rebate or a net of $120.49 each x4 = $481.96 before install and taxes.  

I buy off this site all the time.  Have them shipped to my local place and that place calls me when they arrive, usually the next day, maybe 2 day.  Purchases include 2 yr road hazard also (that I have never had to try to claim on.)

I don't understand the Continental range. I had previously crossed off the Crosscontact LX25 because it was worse by tirerack testing than those listed for not much price delta.

I see now true contact, but I really don't understand the difference.

I have no help on the differences but here is some survey data about these True Contact Tours

tuna55 said:

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Just 4 months ago I bought tires for my newly acquired 2019 Dodge Caravan.  As detailed in that link, my choice was Continentals through tirebuyer.com.  I would buy again.  For me, it was major brand, long wear tires for the price of no-namers.  Happy with the ride and noise (or lack of noise.) 

Specifically I went with Continental True Contact Tour an 80k rated tire.  I searched them for you and current for your size is $137.99 each with $75 rebate or a net of $120.49 each x4 = $481.96 before install and taxes.  

I buy off this site all the time.  Have them shipped to my local place and that place calls me when they arrive, usually the next day, maybe 2 day.  Purchases include 2 yr road hazard also (that I have never had to try to claim on.)

I don't understand the Continental range. I had previously crossed off the Crosscontact LX25 because it was worse by tirerack testing than those listed for not much price delta.

I see now true contact, but I really don't understand the difference.

So adding it to the list, allowing $100 for installation, it comes to $652.It does not appear to be covered under Continentals rebate

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

I have no help on the differences but here is some survey data about these True Contact Tours

Can I advocate for the removal of categories like "grand touring", "standard touring" etc? It's meaningless to me and makes direct comparison hard.

Re: rebate...

When I shop the site under my zip code, this is what I see.  Could the rebate be regional?

It's been a few years, but the first gen MDX used that size tire. The Michelin CrossTerrain was the best lasting tire on those. 60k miles was pretty common if rotated as needed. The other tire they used was the Goodyear something or other that was crap. There was a Yokohama option as a middle of the road but the Michelin was far above the best option. 

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

I think that Tirebuyer has added it errantly. I had been shopping at many sites (which all have the same prices) and most had not linked to that promotion. When I clicked it for details, I saw that Continental had listed a specific batch of tires which were eligible. None of my choices were on that list.

In reply to bobzilla :

Michelin is winning the showdown thus far. Also we have some Costco coupons and can't use them elsewhere. Michelin is sold there but not much else.

tuna55 said:

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

I think that Tirebuyer has added it errantly. I had been shopping at many sites (which all have the same prices) and most had not linked to that promotion. When I clicked it for details, I saw that Continental had listed a specific batch of tires which were eligible. None of my choices were on that list.

Third from end choice of Qualifying Tires = True Contact Tour

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

Nice, I stand corrected, thanks.

Michelins are GREAT.  I'll admit, I'm just too cheap to pay for them.  

I've been running Flaken Brand on my business fleet and they have been great.  I considered Flakens too for the wife's van but I thought these Continentals were possibly a  better tire and better value at the time.  

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Michelins are GREAT.  I'll admit, I'm just too cheap to pay for them.  

I've been running Flaken Brand on my business fleet and they have been great.  I considered Flakens too for the wife's van but I thought these Continentals were possibly a  better tire and better value at the time.  

Yeah that $70 pushes it over the edge. I'll try it. Thanks for the help. As usual.

I do costco. They do free rotations and document it for you.. so when your heavy mini van wears the tires out faster than their mileage warranty,  they will help you submit claims to get warranty.

Continentals seem to have the best value right now and the performance is top notch.  At least that was my decision when buying tires for my Edge and Miata.  

 Michelin and Bridgestone have way too high an opinion of themselves IMHO. 

I purchased the continentals for my wife's CRV last year and getting a set put on my grand caravan today. It seems like the best value. 
 

No complaints on the first set yet after 7k miles. 

Conti's purchased. Many thanks. I'll have them installed a week from Friday.

I purchased tires for my minivan at Wal Mart for about $30 each. I recommend, not doing that.

This pic from 2 weeks ago is a good shot of the van wearing Continentals.