There aren’t too many trucks out there that fall into the ‘lightweight’ category and still offer some of the best off-road features – but the Toyota Tacoma makes it look easy.
From being low-cost to run to boasting impressive fuel efficiency, the Toyota Tacoma is a little pick-up that packs a hefty punch.
If you’re the owner of one, just imagine how much more reliable it would be if you invested in some new tires! That’s where we come in.
From improved surface traction to offering better shock absorption, this list will help you choose from the vast list of Tacoma-certified tire options on the market.
Not only that, but we’ve even included a helpful buying guide at the end to make sure you make the right choice! Ready to swap out your existing tires for new ones? Just keep reading.
In a hurry? Give your Tacoma a tire refresh with our top pick
The Michelin All-Season Radial Tire takes our first place!
Unlike standard A/T (all-terrain) tires, the All-Season Radial stands apart from the rest because it is a hybrid of an H/T tire, which means that it can be used in both highway and off-road situations, all the while offering enough durability to be used throughout the year.
So, whether your Tacoma is used for off-road rallies or the busy morning school run, this option from Michelin will ensure a smooth ride, durability, and no tearing. We highly recommend it.
Top 5 Best Tires for Tacoma
OUR TOP PICK
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Michelin LTXA/T2 All-Season Radial Tire
EDITORS CHOICE
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Westlake All-Season Radial Tire
BEST VALUE
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General Grabber AT/X All-Terrain Radial Tire
OUR TOP PICK
Michelin LTXA/T2 All-Season Radial Tire
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Offering excellent durability across a variety of surfaces, we couldn’t help but make the Michelin All-Season Radial Tire our winner!
Made to resist chipping and tearing, the Toyota Tacoma tires is a clever combination of an A/T and H/T tire, so that it can offer all-round durability and be suitable for use in all types of weather conditions.
Offering impressive shock absorption, the Michelin LTX A/T2 is one of the most comfortable A/T tires available on the market! Michelin has innovatively engineered this tire to provide even wear, better fuel economy, and traction even over snow.
Made of the highest quality materials, it’s also constructed from an advanced light truck rubber compound. This means that it will be able to withstand the demands of everyday use, making it a perfect choice for the Tacoma owners that use it as a family vehicle.
Additionally, the Michelin LTX A/T2 has independent tread blocks that feature Michelin’s exclusive Biting Edges tread design. It will be able to enhance traction and grip over wet grass, gravel, snow, or even smooth tarmac.
Not just that, but it also has an optimized footprint that will be able to provide miles of quiet and smooth performance with reduced vibrations. It’s not hard to see why these Michelins are great for Tacoma drivers, however, the price may drive away buyers looking for better value.
Pros
- Comfortable and smooth shock-absorbing tires
- Ensure a smooth and quiet ride
- Fantastic traction and grip on a variety of surfaces
- Ideal for families
- Suitable for mild to moderate off-roading
Cons
- It’s an expensive choice
EDITORS CHOICE
Westlake All-Season Radial Tire
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If you’re looking for tires that strike the balance between both on and off-road driving, then consider the Westlake All-Season Radial Tire.
Offering excellent value for money without compromising on performance, the Westlake All-Season Radial features an aggressive tread design that has been produced using a high-quality rubber.
They have been specifically designed to be shock absorbing and provide extra grip while on the trail and on the road. However, as they have been specifically designed to meet the demands of off-road situations, they’ll perform best across dry, rock terrains.
Their durable tread design has been specifically designed to be able to filter out rocks and sand to give you optimized traction and a smoother overall feel. Plus, besides reliability, the innovative design also helps to extend the life of the tire. They’re great for the off-roader on a budget.
Pros
- Affordable alternative to the Michelin All-Season Radial Tire
- Durable and will fare well in both on-road and off-road situations
- Suitable to be taken onto rocky, uneven terrains
Cons
- Some have found that this tire can impart road-noise, especially while traveling at higher speeds
BEST VALUE
General Grabber AT/X All-Terrain Radial Tire
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A top pick in the Tacoma community is the General Tire’s Grabbers AT/X All-Terrain Radial Tire.
Part of the next generation of General Grabber tires, the AT/X All-Terrain Radial Tire has been built with a variety of different technologies.
It offers exceptional off-road capability, as well as impressive on-road performance, making it a great all-around choice for Tacoma drivers that want the best of both worlds.
StabiliTread Technology ensures optimal street performance and off-road durability, while the DuraGen Technology will help to make sure your drive remains balanced and smooth. This tire has also been built with Three Peak Mountain Snowflake Technology, which will ensure safe and secure snow traction.
Plus, given the size of this tire, it would be easy to think that its thick tread would be loud and noisy, especially while on the highway. However, thanks to built-in Comfort Balance Technology, this tire will remain quiet, even while driving at top speeds for optimum enjoyment.
Not only that, but they look aggressive, which is a requirement that many Tacoma drivers look for. The extra-deep tread pattern will be able to handle most terrain you throw at it, all the while being covered by a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.
Pros
- Suitable for use in all weather conditions
- Thick tread for optimum durability
- Smooth, quiet drive with little to no noise
Cons
- Some have found that this tire wears easily
RUNNER UP
Sumitomo Ice Edge Studdable Winter Radial Tire
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If you live in a colder climate, you’ll need to invest in a pair of tires that will be able to withstand snowy and icy road conditions. The Sumitomo Ice Edge Studdable Winter Radial Tire is a great option to consider.
Certified with the USTMA 3PMSF symbol (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol) for severe snow performance, this versatile tire has been specially designed to meet the needs of Tacoma drivers that are often exposed to different winter driving environments.
Ensuring that you have total control while driving on snow, ice, and slush-covered roads, this tire is loaded with different design features that target the unique demands of cold-weather driving.
First up is the hard base compound, which is optimized to deliver total handling stability and offer improved stud retention. Its solid bead apex helps to support increased sidewall stiffness and deliver more strength, especially when traveling with a heavier load.
It works to deliver a combination of cold-weather surface traction and superior stability, even while carrying heavier loads, thanks to the wide tread channels, while the optimized 3D serrated siping pattern increases bite on wintery surfaces.
Built to withstand even the snowiest of conditions, its soft silica tread compound offers enhanced grip on snow and ice, while the full-width nylon overlay offers extra steel belt security.
The triangular center of the tread pattern also stands out to us, as it helps to expand the tread contact footprint with the road surface for better handling and control. It’s a great choice for Tacoma drivers that live in a cold climate, or who simply need a little extra tread grip.
Pros
- Ideal for drivers often exposed to wintery road conditions
- Stud holes for extra grip if needed
- The optimized 3D serrated siping pattern helps to increase grip strength on icy roads
- Affordable and long-lasting
Cons
- Although it offers great traction in the snow, some drivers find it doesn’t perform as well in the rain
RUNNER UP
Falken Wildpeak A/T3W All-Terrain Radial Tire
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The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is an ideal choice for more intense all-terrain drivers that want to upgrade their current off-road tires for something a little more durable and aggressive.
Created for all kinds of adventures and weather conditions, these tires will be able to handle all kinds of off-road scenarios. They give you plenty of grip on roads and off, and feature tread blocks that are designed to prevent your tires from wearing quickly across the edges.
The rugged and rigid tread blocks contain support ramps and step‐down features that help to provide tread-pattern sturdiness in the contact patch. Thanks to this tread design, it enhances vehicle stability and driver handling, while also stopping debris and stones from becoming trapped in the grooves.
Its optimized tread design is combined with a silica tread compound that will enable the A/T3W to offer exceptional durability, be wear-resistant, and be suitable for use in wet road conditions.
The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is also designed for severe snow conditions, and has been qualified by USTMA and TRAC for the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol.
The A/T3W is also packed with technology. 3D Canyon Sipe Technology is able to interlock the shoulders to resist wear from high torque, as well as providing extra handling stability.
Heat diffuser technology, on the other hand, is located in the lower sidewall and dissipates heat to protect the internal tire structure. By keeping this area of the tire cool, it ensures better vehicle stability even when towing heavier loads.
Pros
- Comes with a 55,000-mile limited Tread Life Warranty
- Has one of the deepest treads in the All-Terrain category, making this tire suitable for all weather conditions, even snow
- Heat diffuser technology for optimum safety
Cons
- Might not be suitable for Tacoma drivers that primarily stick to highways and paved roads
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Best Tires for Tacoma Buying Guide
Just because a tire has great reviews or is a bestseller doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be a good fit for your Toyota Tacoma!
So, to help give you a clearer idea of how to select the right tires, let’s take a look at some of the most important factors that you should keep in mind:
Type of tires
This one’s pretty standard for all tires, but it’s important to bring up.
Before purchasing a new set of tires, you’ll want to make sure that not only are they the correct size, but that they’ll be suitable for where you live, and what purpose you want them to serve.
All-terrain
These durable tires are one of the most popular for Tacoma drivers because they allow drivers to take their trucks on both off-roads and highways. Besides being ideal for Tacoma trucks, all-terrain tires are known for their versatility.
They often feature interlocking tread features, delivering excellent surface traction across most types of terrain (including mud, dry snow, ice, and roads). They’re also placed at more affordable price points than other tire types.
Mud-terrain
If you plan on taking your Tacoma primarily in off-road situations, mud-terrain tires might be the best choice for you. However, though muddy roads appeal to a lot of off-roaders because they’re so fun, it’s important to make sure that you’re safe.
Mud-terrain tires are great because they’ll make sure that you have optimized performance and overall ride quality. Made for tackling mud, these types of tires boast extreme durability, sturdier designs, and a more pronounced, aggressive tread than other kinds of tires.
They also often have bigger lugs, making them great for driving in the snow with, too.
Snow
Live in a snowier climate? Besides stocking up on warm clothing, you’ll also want to make sure that your Tacoma has suitable snow tires!
Just like the name suggests, snow tires are made for safely traveling through snow, and feature various grooves in their tread pattern.
By giving them this unique tread style, it ensures that these types of tires are able to have firmer control across snow and wet ice.
The size
This brings us to the size, which is just as important as selecting the type of tire.
To make sure that you choose the correct size, first, look at the code on your current tire and find a set of tires with the same code. The code acts as a size indicator and will help you to ensure that you buy the right size of tire for your truck.
If you can’t find the code, an alternative way to discover the tire size is to refer to your owner’s manual. In Tacoma manuals, usually, there is a code that will tell you the tire’s size measurements.
The Speed Rating
Next up? The speed rating. In a nutshell, the speed rating will let you know how fast the tire will be able to travel while carrying a load. You’ll need a tire that will be able to withstand the speeds you regularly drive at with ease.
More often than not, tires will be able to accommodate highway speeds, although it’s worth double-checking before purchasing, especially if you plan on driving on them. In addition, ‘performance’ tires will usually have higher speed ratings than all-terrain tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What difference do tire sizes make?
When selecting tires for your Tacoma, you’ll commonly have three options to choose from. These are:
- 33” tires
- 34” tires
- 35” tires
33” tires are the most popular size. They’re suited to Tacoma drivers that spend most of their time on paved roads and highways but would like a little extra traction in case of bad weather. They’re also easier to install, and often only require a small lift kit.
On the other hand, 34” tires are a step up and are ideal for those who want to achieve more of an ‘aggressive look’. They’re also suitable for off-road use.
However, if you have a Tacoma that has larger lifts of 6” or more, you’ll likely need to go for a 35” tire. They increase ground clearance and are the most durable and sturdy out of all the sizes.
How often do I need to change my tires?
Usually, the rubber used to make tires will deteriorate within several years or so, which means that they will last up to 60,000 miles.
This isn’t an exact science, though, so a good indication of when your tires should be changed is when they are flat, or when the tread has worn down.
What are studdable tires?
Studdable tires are essentially standard tires that can be used on their own, except that they have little holes that allow you to install studs.
Studs are not always necessary, but they come in handy during the winter months and will work to help improve traction when driving through ice or snow.