Top 10 Best Tires For Toyota Tacoma In 2024

Considered one of the most widely recognized Toyota lineups, the Tacoma receives praise for its exceptional durability, stable traction, and low maintenance costs. 

But some might not know that their tire choices also have a say in the car’s handling. The best Toyota Tacoma tires must fulfill your specific needs and preferences while ensuring decent overall comfort.

Scroll through our guidelines for more discussions on the matter.

A. How to Choose The Right Tires for Toyota Tacoma

1. Understanding The Toyota Tacoma

Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck with spacious cargo beds for heavy towing and loading. Specifically, it has a payload capacity of up to 1,685 lbs (2023 version) and can tow about 3,500 – 6,800 lbs; it would be better if you picked tires with load indexes of at least 109.

Most Toyota Tacoma lineups go with the RWD (rear-wheel-drive system) that prioritizes smooth, comfortable rides on paved roads and highways. You should look for tires with soft and preferably silica-blended compounds, stable sidewalls, and non-directional/symmetric patterns to smooth out road bumps and keep tread noises at bay. 

On another note, spirited driving and sporty handling are quite tough for the Toyota Tacoma due to its large size, especially in tight or narrow spaces. As such, you should not overspend on performance tires. 

Aside from the main RWD setting, Toyota introduces some 4WD (four-wheel-drive system) models to help you handle extreme off-road terrains and snow. Tires with aggressive shoulders, deep sipes, rugged sidewalls, and other features promoting extra clawing actions will work best for your driving preferences in this case. 

2. Choose The Right Tire Type for Your Toyota Tacoma

a. Highway All-Season Tires

Do you mostly drive your pickup truck on highways and paved roads? Then highway all-season tires will be a natural choice for you in this case, as they balance dry-wet traction with riding comfort quite well.

Premium models also give you sharp steering feedback and stable cornerings without sacrificing treadwear rates. They also reduce rolling resistance (meaning you do not need much effort to move the car forward) to promote fuel economy.

b. All-Terrain Tires

All-terrain tires can help you tackle both on-road and light off-road terrains. To what extent (and which terrain is the tire’s priority) depends on your driving preferences, so choose wisely:

• Aim for on-road AT tires if you mostly travel on paved roads/highways and only venture off-road on occasion. 
• Off-road AT tires will suit your needs most if off-the-beaten paths are the main terrains your Tacoma works on. They give you enough traction and tire integrity on light off-road dirt/rock/loose terrains while maintaining decent to good on-road composure.
• If you travel frequently through both terrain types but do not have much demand for either, a set of affordable rugged AT tires is an excellent choice.

c. Off-road Max Traction Tires

If you have to travel on extreme off-road paths on a frequent basis, strong, aggressive off-road max traction tires will handle the hard work much better than any other tire mentioned here. Premium models from reputed brands can easily breeze through thick dirt, gritty rocks, and deep mud pits from all angles and at almost every driving rate.

Note that while there are some exceptions, these tires usually do not pay much attention to on-road riding comfort.

d. Winter Tires

Snow tires are clearly the most logical option if you must travel a lot through harsh winter storms and thick ice. Their traction in other seasons is usually not as good, but our selected tires below guarantee reliable footings for occasional summer rides. 

B. How Did We Pick and Test The Best Tires for Toyota Tacoma

We installed the 245/75R16 size of 196 best-selling tires through on- or off-road conditions to single out the higher-quality options on our Cor Wheels Tire Test 2023. 

Based on the scores, combined with customer reports, we established full rankings. The ten recommended performers below occupy all the ten highest positions in the chart.

C. Best All-Season Tires for Toyota Tacoma

1. Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Best uses: high-spirited rides, long highways, heavy towing/loading, moderate travel in winter, deep water, light off-road gravel trails, soft rocks, long-time usage

Michelin Defender LTX M/S is a true star on dry roads, especially highways. It utilizes the stable Evertread compounds that stay strong against slightly rougher road textures, aided by the built-in 3D sipes within the tread blocks to smooth out shudders and tire drags easily the longer you ride. As such, its contact patch remains planted through your speed revs/ mid-way changes, showing even less hesitancy when you dive into extended, tightly-spaced curves.

Likewise, this powerful Michelin performer will not disappoint you in wet weather, thanks to the noteworthy combinations of open shoulder slots, lateral grooves, and circumferential channels. They manifest a strong, solid base for the tire to tread on safely and keep hydroplaning issues minimal, especially when you keep your cargo weight below 1300 lbs. And provided that your driving rates do not exceed 75 MPH, the tire can maintain the same punctual steering feedback and agile cornering as in dry conditions with little difficulty.

Defender’s behaviors on snow are not exceptional but decent for a non-winter tire: its 3D active sipes provide predictable biting edges that grow more solid and consistent once the contact patch finally settles onto the roads. Even in the case of thicker ice buildups, its grip and lateral control are still enough to maintain a good balance at 30-35 MPH.

Regarding off-road traction, the tire’s MaxTouch Construction apparently works best on gravel trails and soft, less-gritty rock surfaces. You can still navigate around roadblocks and more rounded corners well by slowing down about 5 seconds in advance. For moderate to heavy cargo, the tire won’t drag too much, given that you keep driving below 45 MPH. 

On another note, do not expect the same control on off-road loose terrains. The Defender LTX is still quite composed and rarely puts you into serious traction loss. However, you might find it difficult to gear the tire at will when facing more slippery patches or angled surfaces due to a brief yet frequent jittery feel under the flanks. Naturally, the same seamless riding comfort and subtle impact cushioning (as observed during on-road rides) are rather out of reach here if you attempt anything too aggressive.

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2. Firestone Destination LE3

Best uses: high-speed highway rides (even with sharp bends), casual rides on regular streets or light dirt paths, flooded roads, long rides, moderate snow depth, moderate loading/towing

One of the best-selling models from Firestone, the Destination LE3, settled our worry with its advanced rubber compound and updated TractionTech package. They worked well on regular streets and encountered little drifting as we moved from the tamed 40 MPH to slightly above 55 MPH. 

This impressive composure continued once we drove our Tacoma onto highways; the contact patch and sidewalls embraced the asphalt so well that we could easily manage abrupt lane changes with minimal steering inputs. Overheating symptoms or feedback delays (often seen in other Firestone tires after riding for 5+ hours) are also hard to notice.

Similarly, the Destination LE3 shines in wet weather with its optimized tread patterns and competitive Hydro-Grip Tech; these features intertwined well to smooth out road cracks and minimize brief slippage whenever we braked hard or turned around at steep corners. 

There is admittedly some delayed response around flooded crooks (usually above 7 inches deep). Still, it is not enough to sabotage your tire’s general stability, and it’ll quickly recover from accidental oversteering.

The 3D sipes bond well with light, snowy roads (about 3 to 5 inches deep); unfortunately, the traction grows weaker on deeper snow blankets and wavers a lot on icy paths. 

Likewise, off-road dirt and rocks send your car into non-dangerous but annoying shudders (even through casual rides on straight routes) that become even more pronounced on deep mud pits and thick dunes. But in its defense, the tire is much more budget-friendly than other rivals in the same sector, which justifies these drawbacks to a certain extent.

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3. Yokohama Geolandar H/T G056

Best uses: highways & casual rides, heavy towing, shallow puddles, long-term usage, warm weather, budget choice

With its stable tread blocks and triple 3D sipes, hardly anything can stop the G056’s powerful and confident handling on regular roads. Slippages and drifting symptoms are rare, allowing you to move delightfully onto highways with minimal to moderate steering inputs. 

Hence, lane changes and complex off-camber highway curves can not reduce your car’s overall stability and traction. Riding quality and treadwear rates will also play in your favor, although you might wish for fewer squeaking noises when loading the Tacoma with more than 1000 lbs. 

Unfortunately, the angled lateral grooves and zigzag sipes do not work as well as you might have hoped in wet weather. They can retain decent footings on shallow puddles or drying surfaces, but anything beyond 50 MPH or 6 inches of water depth makes the tire almost fumble. These behaviors worsen through ascents and get twice more unsteady around tight corners, so you should tread carefully or keep your cargo light when handling them (and if you still feel unsure, just avoid deep water altogether).

Given this clear lack of confidence in on-road wet conditions, G056’s less-than-stellar performances on sticky, damp sand and mud are expected; you must keep your steering-wheel grip force consistent here and avoid abrupt acceleration at all costs. The tire only gets better on gently sloping rock surfaces and loose dirt – and even then, unexpected coughs and shudders still lurk around.

Needless to say, its snow performances are far from the tire’s greatest strengths. It is only somewhat rideable on light snow of 5 inches or below (getting slightly more comfortable with the road patterns when equipped with snow chains) and goes horribly as the snow/ice depth increases. In compensation, the tire’s low pricing can help you save a lot of bucks if you do not need extreme handling characteristics when winter comes.

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D. Best All-Terrain Tires for Toyota Tacoma

4. BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A

Best uses: paved roads, heavy cargo, mild corners, long-term usage, light snow, off-road dirt & gravel, soft rocks

The puncture-resisting compounds and closed shoulders help BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain maintain a reliable balance on dry roads without sacrificing too much noise control and comfort. Acceleration, deceleration, and hard braking affected neither its traction nor momentum; the steering response was also crisp around corners. We did observe some tire drags as the car entered rough chicanes with cargo beyond 1200 lbs, but these issues were quite hard to notice generally and could easily be handled through downshifts.

While the anti-hydroplaning design might not work wonders for wet weather or snowy roads, the BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain feels predictable enough to ensure consistent traction and overall control for you in casual rides/moderate driving speeds. Reducing the number of passengers to 2-3 also helps correct the drifting symptoms in deep water – and for deeper snow than 5 inches, you may improve the tire’s biting edges with strong snow chains on all four.

Surprisingly, Trail-Terrain AT delivered more clawing actions in off-road dirt than in snow. We could feel its sure-footed grip, leaving no room for unnecessary drags or jitters that might hamper the tire-road connection. Behaviors on rocks and loose terrains are also generally favorable, allowing you to navigate roadblocks, approach wide corners, or wriggle out of gravel and dirt with decent composure at 35-40 MPH.

Treadwear rates are the last thing to worry about. Nevertheless, with a price tag at the upper end of the spectrum, some of you might expect better resistance against colder temperatures or sharp rocks. 

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5. Continental TerrainContact A/T

Best uses: dynamic on-road handling, deep water, heavy rainfall, off-road dirt, heavy towing, sharp corners

With the +Silane additives blended into the compound, the Continental TerrainContact easily stabilizes and composes itself well across all steering techniques and mid-way changes. As a result, you can navigate obstacles or overtake other vehicles in a breezy, clean manner, and even beginners should be able to enjoy more dynamic road handling without encountering traction loss.

The tires’ agile steering response continues to shine in your wet riding – evident in the grippy contact patch at 40-45 MPH through straight roads and corners. Over-reactions upon rough/unplanned acceleration still occur in deep water, but the tires regain their control just as quickly, so feel free to load your car with 1,000 to 1,500 lbs during long trips in heavy rainfalls.

On another note, the open tread pattern (designed for off-road traction) seems to work best only on gravel trails and smooth bedrocks at below 55 MPH. It is still well-controlled and rideable on loose sand and mud, but a significant decrease in traction around sharp turns and ascents is hard to ignore.

Furthermore, given the high price, you might be disappointed with the tires’ muted feedback and worn edges on deeper snow and ice. It would be best to use the TerrainContact A/T on moderately snow-covered roads (3 to 5 inches), preferably with snow chains on at least two wheels and no aggressive handling.

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6. Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

Best uses: casual rides, paved roads, mild slopes, wide corners, light off-road terrains, short traveling in winter

A set of Thompson Baja Boss tires should do if you mostly travel in light, casual rides on both on- and off-road terrains. 

While not having broad shoulders and specialized features for cornering and handling, Baja Boss tires could manage decently on paved roads with its durable, silica-reinforced compounds. 

We could also observe the tires’ impressive stability when kept at regular driving speeds (40 – 45 MPH), and their composure when adapting to gradual acceleration would also work well with fresh beginners. You only need extra steering-wheel grip force around gentle curves/simple lane merges in most basic driving situations.

Its grooves and sipes shine in snow conditions, too. They might not be as sharp as a true winter tire (or higher-quality touring tires), but they stay consistent through uneven snow depths and diverse road textures. That means you can travel from icy roads to snowy blankets or vice versa with relatively the same grip – great news if you live in regions with a harsh climate and unpredictable road conditions.

These also apply to off-road traction. It is not outstanding and still suffers from frequent shudders on more slippery patches, but you can feel the solid tire-road connection remains relatively the same across dirt, rock, or loose terrain. Cornering at high speeds (beyond 45 MPH) on abrasive granite rocks caused our car to lose control, but we could still recover from it and return to the track within a minute or so. 

The Baja’s biggest drawback is its wet on-road grip, which is on the same level as the tire’s off-road traction despite traveling on much smoother surfaces. Mickey should also address the annoying screeching noises on thick debris and steep slopes. 

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7. Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

Best uses: all off-road terrain (dirt, sand, light mud, and rock), snowy roads, straight ice-covered roads, light to moderate loading, deep water

As one of the best off-road AT tires on the marketplace, the Falken Wildpeak tire includes numerous off-road-focused features in its design. 

The aggressive sidewalls and upper shoulders assist your car through thick debris and hard-packed dirt at any driving rate (except for rapid acceleration). At the same time, the stepped-down features help throw small pebbles off the contact patch for better grip. 

You will also have a delightful experience with Wildpeak’s support ramps that embrace sandy trails with a pleasant yet firm grip, spreading the sand particles evenly to avoid significant tire drag. And while its behaviors on deep mud pits are not as confident, you can still keep things in control if not exceeding 40 MPH in speed or loading cargo of more than 900 lbs.

The off-road biting edges also have their moment on snow of varying depths. You can use snow chains to gain extra stability through ascents, but driving without them will not sacrifice Tacoma’s composure. Icy corners might be a little harder to navigate, but straight, non-twisty icy paths are a piece of cake at regular speeds.

Overall, there is no glaring feedback, although some customer reports mentioned the high-pitched squeaks during the transitions through varied off-road surfaces (from mud to sand or rock, for instance).

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8. Goodyear Wrangler Workhouse AT

Best uses: paved dry roads, off-road dirt/rock, long traveling in snow, average water depth (below 5 inches), moderate loading/towing

This Goodyear tire features extended shoulders and block angles to create numerous biting edges, so our rides through off-road dirt felt quite smooth. 

Except for more pronounced shudders when we hard-braked or entered corners with sharp turns, the tire remained aggressive yet controlled most of the time despite our fluctuating inputs and driving speeds. You can easily adapt to these dirt paths regardless of your driving skills.

Its large blocks also come in handy on rock beds and scree slopes, evident in our easy handling at 40-55 MPH on straight roads. For twistier corners on densely rocky tracks, we had to brake longer beforehand to approach them with a wider angle, but the worst we experienced was only some jostles. If you are not confident enough, reduce the number of passengers and the amount of cargo, preferably below 700 lbs.

While the Workhouse AT and its extended shoulders do not shine as brilliantly on loose sand and mud as on other off-road terrain, it still manages to minimize severe skids. So, you can decently handle gentle sand dunes and marshy areas with basic driving skills. Tight corners might pose more risks of traction loss for you, but gentle curves or widely spaced crooks will still be manageable. 

The tire is not half-bad on snow as a non-winter tire – rideable even through extremely slippery and dense ice buildups. Riding comfort and tire flex during on-road endeavors also meet our expectations with tolerable rumbling noises. 

Still, some of you might not be disappointed with the frequent hydroplaning in deeper water beyond 5 inches. 

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9. Cooper Discoverer STT Pro

Best uses: extreme off-road ventures, moderate snow depths, occasional driving on dry/wet paved roads

A strong and aggressive off-road max traction tire, the Discoverer STT Pro easily winds through tough off-road dirt thanks to its wide lateral grooves. 

The car adapts instantly to the road textures with a reduced risk of traction loss, paving the way for spirited handling and extreme acceleration without sacrificing too much riding comfort. You will still notice notable bumps over particularly large cracks or thick gravel buildups, but they’ll become less noticeable the longer you ride. 

The STT’s general performance on mud and rock did not fall short of our expectations. Its anti-stone ribs (placed at the groove base) were excellent in ejecting small pebbles and rocks of the contact patch for a smoother drive, and the dimples and alternating cleats helped the tire self-clean better than many other off-road max traction tires. Sharp corners, twisties, or even steep inclines are less likely to dampen the tire’s stability, so you can increase the number of passengers and the cargo weight to 1600 lbs with ease.

The small yet sticky sand particles seem to challenge the STT Pro tires, but even so, they are still well-behaved and can traverse straight roads and tough corners at 40-60 MPH trouble-free.

You might want to cut down your cargo load to below 1000 lbs if you are a beginner. But we can guarantee that seasoned or advanced drivers can still proceed easily with their cargo on sand – just as with any other terrain. 

Needless to say, these solid off-road biting edges work similarly on dry on-road surfaces and snowy roads (minus some over-reactions during sharper turns). 

However, surprisingly, its self-cleaning ability doesn’t function as expected in heavy rainfall and wet conditions. Its constant shudders on icy roads also lower its overall score. Furthermore, if you are noise-sensitive, then it’s hard to tolerate the screeching, almost deafening noises across rugged textures and gritty rocks.

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E. Best Winter Tires for Toyota Tacoma

10. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2

Best uses: all winter terrains, short trips on dry roads, deep water, paved roads in summer

Coming with stronger, more aggressive block edges compared to its V1 predecessors, the DM-V2 quickly proved its prowess in thick, cold snow. 

On roads littered with melting snow, the contact patch felt so planted that we transitioned between speed limits with ease. With cargo reduced to below 500 lbs, we could rev straight to 85 MPH and still weave gracefully through lanes and between vehicles. Its ribs and sidewalls balance flexibility and stability so well that your Tacoma can shed sticky snow off itself.

Encounters with thick ice buildups will only cause minor shudders on your way, and the tire maintains excellent composure and good tire-road connection at 40-55 MPH regardless. We also experienced the same pleasant, predictable control with responsive steering feedback on on-road surfaces, especially wet roads.

On another note, the treadwear rate is good but not exceptional (especially given the upper-range pricing), and you might wish for better noise control upon large road cracks. 

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Conclusion

This article has summarized the ten best all-season and all-terrain tires for Tacoma based on real-life testing. 

Keep in mind our extra buying guides as well, and scan through detailed reviews of each tire if necessary (available on the COR Wheels website) to ensure you select the most suitable tire for your driving needs.