The future of my '96 Tacoma

So, I've been a member here for awhile, but have only posted every now & then.
Six years ago, I bought a low-miles (73K) base-model 5-speed '96 Tacoma, for $400 from the second owner, and only put 10K on her since. Truck did have a major tranny issue. But I was able to fix that myself and add a used ARE cap. Since then, I've also changed shocks & pads, replaced the PO's dead Sony audio unit, installed AC, and finally a new clutch.
I need to start driving it more, including significant time on the highway, but it still wears the PO's crappy no-name Chinese tires. So what decent quality tires in a 195/75R14 would someone here recommend? I'd rather not change the rim size. WalMart says they can install Douglas 195/70R14s.
Also, does my 2.4 have a balance-shaft, or any timing-chain issues due to age, like plastic chain-guides crumbling?
Thanks.

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Brand? Size? I might have to look somewhere else. See my two local Pep Boys have closed, permanently!

Mark D.

 

https://www.discounttire.com/fitmentresult/tires?q=:recommended&sort=recommended

 

I would check walmart.com.......ton of tires online.
And sometimes they have special buys.....

Order and pay online....then free ship to store or home.

Also 5 lug is fairly common between brands.....easy to find 15' rim.....cheap...
Bet few here have a few left over sets of steelies...
maybe someone near by......like marketplace.....

 

I'll give you $1,000 for the truck and you don't need to worry about anymore.....

 

With just 83K, the tranny fixed, a new clutch, and cap & AC added, I think maybe it's worth a bit more than that! Hell,those fancy stainless factory hubcaps are worth a small fortune. (Ask me how I know!)
Meanwhile, anyone think replacing the current 195/75R14s with the WalMart-available Douglas 195/70R14s is a problem?

Happy Motoring, Mark D.

 

Where are you from?

I ended up getting Yokohamas for my 2010 but I'm not brand loyal, just needed something decent and these were the best deal. 70 or 80K wear (I forget), at the time I was doing 15K a year.

If you don't drive it often, I think that type of tire you mentioned should be fine though I'm not up on the brand.

 

Thanks. I'm considering the one tire they stock for my truck - a US-made Douglas P195/70R14.
It's 3/4 inch smaller diameter than the factory spec P195/75R14.
What do you think?

Happy Motoring, Mark D.

 

Thanks, I'm in Northern Virginia.
I hope to drive it more, but not that often. Mainly add highway trips to my parent's home in Virginia Beach, and save some wear & tear on my other vehicle.
The tire I can get right away at WalMart is a US-made Douglas P195/70R14. They claim it's a
division of Goodyear, and they're 3/4 inch smaller diameter than the factory spec P195/75R14.
I also found some 205/70R14 tires listed at Discount Tire that are real close - about 1/8 inch smaller diameter than factory-spec. But they give no manufacturer-info on their cheaper tires. I'm trying to avoid crappy, no-name Chinese tires, like the ones put on my truck by the PO!

Happy Motoring, Mark D.

 

Thanks for the link.It was very helpful to compare tire specs, and see how one step up or down in width or aspect-ratio will affect the tire diameter.
Funny thing though - where their site listed choices to enter my vehicle year, make & model, there was absolutely NO Tacoma listed - for '96 or '97, or '99!
At least they let me continue with only the tire size. I'll have to call them and ask "What's up with Tacomas!"

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Did you install the A.C. yourself?

 

.....

 

On mine previous owner stuck some cheap 15" aluminum rims with 225's...
And with me replacing most suspension parts you can....now it rides real solid.
Like a chevy shortbed half ton.....not at all like previous....big change.
Way more tire options too.


As far as the 14's.....if you happy with the 75s, you will feel zero difference with the 70's.........smaller diameter, the more you feel roughness of the road.....but you already feel this, 70's wont change it at all.....even speedo will show u little faster....maybe 1/3 mph.....@ 50 mph...very little....
Might get tiny bit better milage too....

 

I sure did! It's been 3 -4 years ago now. I may have posted here about it.
The great thing about these first-gen Tacomas is they come factory prepped to install AC, and you don't need to remove the entire dash - just the glovebox, one bracket, and a duct.
New AC hoses and compressor kit from RockAuto included filter-drier, exp-valve, and complete O-ring seal kit for all the line connections.
Evaporator assy, condenser assy and most all the brackets, clips, bolts, pipes, and other hardware came from various salvage-yards. Total parts cost near $500, but the price online for a no-longer-available factory Nippondenso AC kit was $1700!

Happy Motoring, Mark D.

 

On Tacoma World's tire calculator, with 205/70R14s, my speedo would read about .8 mph high at 70 mph.
With 195/70R14s, it would read about 1.5 high at 50mph, about 2.3 high at 70mph, and I might feel just a bit better acceleration.

Happy Motoring, Mark D

 

If your in NOVA and just looking to drive it more often the Walmart tires seem like a solid choice. I lived in Winchester for years and I miss the snow up there. Id just make sure you got a decent snow rated tire unless you have something else for winter time. No need to drop a ton of money on a name if your just gonna drive it some. If your making it a daily driver then maybe invest more. I was told a long time ago to look at tires like a mattress. If your gonna sleep on it nightly dont buy crap spend the extra money if this is going in the spare room where your mother in law is gonna sleep then doesnt really matter how comfortable she is lol. It made sense to me

 

The thing I have noticed with light trucks is usually the tire will dry rot before you lose the tread. If you rotate an balance them as required most will have plenty of tread left when ya have to change em out for dry rot. Had a set of Michelin LTXs on mine for 10 years and they still had plenty of tread but were dry rotting and the Toyos I have on there now made it almost 6 years still lots of tread and again Dry rotting. Average for me is about 10 to 12k a year. A buddy of mine put some Grabber brand from Walmart on his and he has had 0 problems with them in about 16 months.

 

I'll be driving my other vehicle to Virginia Beach next week after Labor Day. So I may stop at Discount Tire in Fredericksburg to look at a $65 205/70R14 GT Radial VP and see if I like it. If not, my premium choice is their $84 205/70R14 Uniroyal Tiger Paw. My budget choice will be the $61 Douglas P195/70R14 from Walmart.

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Hey Mark, Good luck in your tire search. I am from VA and now live in the outer banks. I would give you $4,500 for the truck this week! Haha, Sorry!! hard not to send an offer on such a nice little truck. I love the color too.

 

This is true, I ran into this with my wife's old Rav4..though the scummy tire shop upsold her a 70K tire and she drives under 10K a year.