Tacoma Tire Upgrades That Change Everything: Size, Type, Fitment, and Feel

Tires are the single most important upgrade for a Toyota Tacoma. Why? Because they directly impact every aspect of how your truck performs—from traction and ride quality to MPG, gearing, and road feel. Whether you’re trail crawling, overlanding, towing, or commuting in snow, your tire setup defines your truck’s limits.

This guide gives you a no-BS breakdown of tire upgrades that make a real difference. You’ll get everything: fitment rules, terrain types, tire sizes that work, how to avoid rubbing, best tire picks by budget, and real-world combinations that trail-tested Tacoma owners rely on.

Stock Tire Sizes by Trim & Year

2nd Gen (2005–2015)

• Base: 215/70R15

• PreRunner: 245/75R16

• TRD Off-Road: 265/70R16

• TRD Sport: 265/65R17

3rd Gen (2016–2023)

• SR/SR5: 245/75R16 or 265/65R17

• TRD Sport: 265/65R17

• TRD Off-Road: 265/70R16 or 265/65R17

• TRD Pro: 265/70R16

These stock sizes limit your ground clearance and trail capability—but they’re also the baseline for determining fitment upgrades.

What Changing Tire Size Affects

• Ground Clearance: Taller tires = higher differential and rocker clearance

• MPG: Bigger tires = lower fuel economy

• Torque Delivery: Heavier tires strain stock gearing

• Braking: More weight = longer stops

• Speedometer/Odometer Accuracy: Off by 5–10% on 33s+

• Ride Quality: Sidewall flex changes road feel dramatically

A/T vs M/T vs R/T vs Highway

• All-Terrain (A/T): Balanced. Best for 80% road/20% trail

• Mud-Terrain (M/T): Maximum grip, loud, bad on-road manners

• Rugged Terrain (R/T): Hybrid tread; trail-ready but quiet

• Highway Tires: Smooth and quiet, but worthless off-road

How Big Can You Go Without a Lift?

• 265/70R16 or 265/65R17: Safe with no mods

• 275/70R17: Fits most with minor fender liner push

• 285/70R17 or 285/75R16: Requires trimming + alignment

• 33×12.5R17: Needs 2.5–3″ lift, CMC, and trimming

• 35s: Needs 6” lift, regear, CMC, heavy trimming

Lifted Tire Fitment Guide

Common Tacoma Tire Sizes

• 265/70R16 – Stock TRD size

• 275/70R16 – Slightly taller, fits well

• 285/70R16 or R17 – Most popular lifted size

• 285/75R16 – True 33s

• 255/85R16 – Tall + narrow, great for overlanding

• 35×12.5R17 – Big boys only: lift, gears, CMC required

Best Tires for Daily Driving

• Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Silent, grippy, winter-rated

• Cooper AT3 XLT – Long tread life

• Toyo AT3 – Strong on-road manners

• Yokohama Geolandar G015 – Quietest A/T available

• BFG KO2 – Legendary, but stiff and loud when worn

Best Off-Road & Overland Tires

• Nitto Ridge Grappler – Aggressive + highway capable

• Toyo Open Country R/T – Great blend of tread and ride

• BFG KM3 – Hardcore mud + crawl

• General Grabber X3 – Mud + sand king

• Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T – R/T tire that behaves like an M/T

Best Snow Tires for Tacomas

• Goodyear Duratrac – Deep snow king

• Cooper AT3 4S – Great for winter and dry roads

• Firestone Destination X/T – True 3PMSF

• Michelin LTX Winter – Dedicated winter tire

• Wildpeak AT3W – Year-round snow traction champion

Load Ratings, Tire Weight & MPG

• C Load: Softer ride, better MPG

• D Load: Balanced, good for trails + street

• E Load: Max durability, rougher ride

Weight (285/70R17s)

• BFG KO2: 56 lbs

• Nitto Ridge: 60 lbs

• Toyo M/T: 67+ lbs

• Baja Boss A/T: 63+ lbs

• Wildpeak AT3W: 58 lbs

Each 10 lb adds ~1 MPG loss.

Regearing for Big Tires

Stock gear: 3.91 or 4.30
Upgrade to:

• 33s: 4.88

• 35s: 5.29

• Benefit: Restores torque, shift points, acceleration

• Cost: $1,600–$2,000

Speedometer & Odometer Correction

• 285/70R17 = 6–8% off

• Fix via: Hypertech Speedometer Calibrator or ECU tune

• Bonus: Tuning improves throttle and shifting too

Best Wheels for Fitment

Rubbing: How to Stop It

Fixes:

• Fender liner pushback

• Remove mud flaps

• CMC (cut + plate)

• Trim plastic and pinch welds

• Add caster via UCAs

Tire Rotation & Alignment Tips

• Rotate every 5–6k miles

• Use X-pattern unless directional

• Balance every rotation

• Align after lift or rub

• Signs: Uneven wear, pull, off-center wheel

PSI Off-Road Guide

Use portable compressors. Never run aired-down tires on highways.

Best Budget Tires (Under $250/Tire)

1. Falken Wildpeak AT3W

2. Cooper AT3 XLT

3. General Grabber A/TX

4. Toyo AT2

5. Yokohama G015

Premium Tire Picks (Top-Tier Performance)

1. Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

2. BFG KO2

3. Nitto Ridge Grappler

4. Toyo Open Country R/T

5. Goodyear Duratrac

Real Tacoma Build Tire Combos

Weekend Warrior

• 285/70R17 Wildpeaks

• Bilstein 5100s + 1.5” lift

• Stock wheels, 1.25” spacers

Overland

• 285/75R16 Baja Boss A/T

• OME BP-51 + JBA UCAs

• 16×8 wheels, -10 offset

Trail Rig

• 35×12.5R17 KM3s

• 6” Rough Country lift

• 17×9 -12 offset

• Regear + dual ARB lockers

Final Verdict + FAQs

Final Verdict

If you want your Tacoma to ride better, grip harder, clear obstacles, and look the part—tires are the foundation of your build. Nothing makes a bigger difference day-to-day than dialing in the right size, type, and fitment.

FAQs

Q: Biggest tire without a lift?
275/70R17 or 285/70R17 with minor trim. Anything larger needs real mods.

Q: What’s the best A/T tire overall?
Falken Wildpeak AT3W. Balance of grip, price, road comfort, and snow performance.

Q: Will bigger tires ruin my MPG?
Slightly, yes. Expect 1–3 MPG loss. Regearing can help.

Q: Can I daily drive mud tires?
Yes—but they’re loud, wear fast, and reduce handling. R/T tires are better for daily-trail balance.

Q: Should I buy wheels and tires together?
If going up in size, yes. Helps avoid mounting issues and saves labor.