The Tacoma is one of the very best trucks you can buy, hands down. It’s absolutely bulletproof.

A mid-size pickup it’s not as capable as a full-size, if that’s what you’re looking for, but for most folks it’s got all the towing and payload capability they need, plus a decent sized bed and a more manageable size. It’s also excellent for off-road exploring.

Did we mention the flawless reliability? (We probably did).

When it comes to replacing or upgrading the tires on your Tacoma we’ve compiled a list of the best options for on-road, light off-roading, true off-roading and a few others based on important factors like capability, warranty and price.

Toyota Tacoma Tire Size

Tacoma Limited

• 265/60/18

Tacoma SR, SR5

• 265/70/16
• 245/75/16

Tacoma TRD Off-Road

• 265/70/16

Tacoma TRD Pro

• 265/70/16

Tacoma TRD Sport

• 265/65/17

What Tires Come on the Toyota Tacoma?

Due to the numerous different types of Tacoma available, there’s no shortage of tires that come equipped on the truck from the factory. Trucks with 16-inch tires tend to run Hankook Dynapro HT HR12 tires, Toyo Open Country A31 tires or Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure with Kevlar tires for more off-road focused versions. Some also come with Firestone Destination LE 2 or Toyo Open Country A30.  Trucks with 17-inch wheels come with either Firestone Destination LE 2 or Toyo Open Country A30 tires. And finally, you can find the Michelin LTX MS2 on some trucks with 18-inch wheels

What Tire is Right for You?

Before digging too deep into our list, it’s important that you understand what tire is best for your needs. To do that it’s important to look at a few different types of tires and why you’d consider them.

A lot of Tacoma owner take their trucks off-road and if you’re going to do that with any frequency you’ll want an All Terrain tire. Not only are they better designed to grip on rocks and dirt, but they’ll also hold up well over time with this sort of abuse. They’ll offer slightly less on-road handling dynamics (and sometimes lower wet weather performance) than a conventional all-season or highway terrain tire, but thanks to some impressive advancements in tire technology they are almost all surprisingly civilized.

If off-road use is only something you occasionally do, and the off-roading is on the lighter side, then you’re better off choosing a Highway Terrain tire. These still offer some off-road grip, but with increased on-road performance and a big jump in overall tread life.

And (almost) finally there are conventional all-season tires. These will offer the best ride quality, handling and often the longest tread life. A few can tackle occasional off-road use, but that’s not what they are designed for.

Let’s not forget about mud-terrain or maximum traction MT tires.These are extreme off-road tires that while technically street legal are best kept for true off-road rigs. They’re amazingly impressive, especially in loose surfaces. Often they can be had in massively oversized sizes. They also often come with oversized prices.

Best Toyota Tacoma Tire

Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure with Kevlar

An excellent combination of on- and off-road performance, the Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure with Kevlar tire isn’t the most capable off-road tire, but it’s also doesn’t have the on-road drawbacks.

It’s plenty capable off-road and extremely durable too, thanks to its Kevlar reinforced casing. Making use of a five-row tread pattern it handles well for an all-terrain tire, while deep channels for water evacuation mean it performs well in the wet- something many more extreme AT tires do not.

A 60,000 mile warranty is solid, while the price is extremely attractive for such a capable and durable tire.

     

Best Toyota Tacoma Tire (alternative)

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S

Capable, durable and still quite civilized, the Cooper AT3 4S is an all-terrain tire that’s easy to live with on-road. And it’s plenty capable off-road.

A 65,000 mile warranty is the most you’ll get out of any all-terrain tire, so log tread life is a real bonus here. Plus, the pricing is quite reasonable.

And as another bonus, these tires are certified for true winter capability and feature the three peak mountain snowflake logo on the sidewall, so you can drive with confidence in any season.

     

Best Highway Terrain Tire for Toyota Tacoma

Hankook Dynapro HT RH12

As our top pick for a Highway Terrain tire, the Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 gives up just a little on-road civility in favor of  some more off-road capability. So if you do take you truck off the beaten path more than the occasional time, a highway terrain tire might be more of what you’re looking for.

On-road driving dynamics are great in the wet and dry, with decent wet weather capability (but not quite as good as you’ll get on an all-season tire).

The tire does have slightly more tire noise than an all-season, but also offers some decent grip on dirt trails and gravel roads.

Overall, the pricing for this tire is extremely affordable, and with a 70,000 mile tread life warranty it might be the best all-around Tacoma tire you can buy.

     

Best Highway Terrain Tire for Toyota Tacoma (alternative)

Continental Terrain Contact HT

Similar to the Hankook above the Continental Terrain Contact HT trades a little civility and wet on-road grip in favor of some light off-road traction. Pricing is a bit more than the Hankooks, but still quite affordable. The warranty is also impressive at 70,000 miles.

With the Hankook being such a great offering we’d skip over this tire entirely were it not for Continental’s great warranty features. In addition to that mileage guarantee, Conti also offers one year of free roadside assistance for a flat tire change (or a 150 mile tow), plus, if you do damage a tire due to a road hazard, the replacement tire is free of charge.

     

Best All-Season Tire for Toyota Tacoma

Michelin Defender LTX MS

Always one of our top choices for an all-season truck tire the Defender LTX MS has one particularly unique attribute. Due to its heavy siping on the tread it’s more capable in winter than almost any all-season tire, so for those who absolutely don’t want to swap tires when the seasons change, this is your best option.

Due to the extra siping, overall handling dynamics aren’t as good as some of the competition, but it’s not dramatic.

And a 70,000 mile tread life warranty means these tires will last for many years.

     

Cheapest Toyota Tacoma Tire

Pathfinder AT

Costing significantly less than the other tires on this list the Pathfinder AT isn’t on the same level as the other tires on this list, but it’s compromises tend to be rather small across numerous areas. As a result, there’s no one area where it’s really lacking – other than price!

Overall dry and wet weather performance are good and off-road grip is decent too. It comes with a 60,000 mile tread life warranty, which is pretty impressive for an all-terrain tire. And did we mention the price?

Best All-Terrain Tire for Toyota Tacoma

BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2

There’s really just no challenging the off-road dominance of the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2. While there are better tires on this list for on-road use or occasional off-road use, if you do use your truck off-road regularly and actually tackle some serious low-grip situations, this tire is your absolute best pick.

The tread life warranty of 50,000 miles isn’t a high as some others but you’ll be able to meet that guarantee even if you run these tires hard.

Plus, some versions of the tire now come with the three-peak mountain snowflake logo, certifying them for serious winter use.

The down side to these tires is their price. You pay a premium to get the best.

     

Best All-Terrain Tire for Toyota Tacoma (alternative)

Falken Wildpeak AT3W

Less capable than the BFGs and with slightly better on-road manners (some folks find the KO2s ride a bit stiff) these are still respectable all-terrain tires.

They are also vastly less expensive than the BFGs and come with a better warranty at 55,000 miles.

And while many all-terrain tires are just starting to offer winter capability, the AT3W was build with winter in mind.

Combine that with the excellent price point and it’s not hard to see why this tire is a top seller for the Tacoma.

     

Best Winter Tire for Toyota Tacoma

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2

Pricier than the average winter tire for the Tacoma, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is definitely not average. It’s center tread section offers extreme levels of grip on snow-packed surfaces, giving 2WD pickups the grip they need and making sure your 4WD performs like one no matter what mother nature has in store.

Heavy siping running in different directions makes this tire grip under acceleration, braking and cornering.

For performance on snow, it can’t be beat.

     

Best Budget Winter Tire

Yokohama IceGuard G075

The Iceguard G075 might not be the world’s most advanced winter tire but it does a solid job of offering grip on snow covered roads and of withstanding freezing temperatures. As a result it works well on clear cold roads offering plenty of grip, even when you don’t think you need it.

Truly the best reason to by this tire is its great price, which is more in line with budget offerings despite being from a premium brand.

     

Tire Buying FAQ

Where can I find the best price on tires?

There is no one answer to this question unfortunately. Sites like Tire Rack and Discount tire offer deals all the time on specific brands. You can also find deals on Amazon though they are much harder to find and often only apply to a specific size or group of sizes. Visit our Tire Deals page for more info.

When is the best time to buy tires?

It’s common that many shoppers buy tires once its already too late. At that point you don’t have a lot of choice and can often over-pay. If you’re planning ahead, generally, retailers offer significant tire deals around major holiday weekends (especially in the summer), as well as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

How much is Shipping?

Shipping is often included when you purchase tires online. Many retailers offer free shipping if you get your tires shipped to an installer that they recommend. Even if you ship to your home, Tire Rack offers free shipping on purchases over $50. And if you’re buying new tires, that won’t be hard.

How long does shipping take?

Shipping can take just a few days, or over a week in the worst cases. Often it depends on where you live. anyone in a larger urban center or living closer to a tire distribution center can get them quite quickly.

Does anyone offer mobile tire installation?

Depending on where you live, there may be numerous local mobile tire installers available. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of tracking one down, TireRack offers its own service. You don’t even have to purchase tires from TireRack to use it.

While it’s more expensive than bringing your tires to the shop, it’s also a lot more convenient. Prices start at $25 per tire.

How much does it cost to install a tire?

Generally you’ll pay between $25 and $50 per tire for installation services. This includes mounting and balancing, while using the latest tools so your rims don’t get scuffed or scraped.

Do I need to replace the tire pressure monitoring system when I change tires?

It’s not necessary to replace TMPS sensors when you change tires, but you may want to consider it. The units can fail over time due to damage or corrosion. Also, most units contain a battery and as a sealed unit, they must be replaced when the battery wears down. While most tire installers will handle sourcing these parts for you, you can also buy your own here.

Do online tire retailers offer rebates?

Absolutely! In fact, rebates are offered by most brands (even premium ones). Often these incentives are offered with other deals including up-front discounts and credit card offers.