Tire Recommendation?

Hey Folks,

I have a new '23 TRD Off Road DCSB coming my way. I want to get one size larger tires - 265 75 16. I will keep the stock wheels.

I am looking for the elusive "best tires".

I live in North Idaho where we get plenty of rain and snow. Roads are typically covered in packed snow 3-4 months each winter. Plenty of rain in the fall and spring, and some in the winter too. My house is one mile down a dirt road. I am a hunter, and in the fall I will be taking it on some semi-rugged back roads. I won't be taking it on very many long road trips, it's mostly for local driving.

I am looking for a single tire that can handle all of the above, and still be as quiet as possible with good mileage.

From my research, it looks like the best option is the All Terrain Falken Wildpeak.

Agree? Disagree? Other suggestions? Why or why not?

Thank you!

-Tim

 

There are lots of good options. They’re all basically the same. Toyo AT IIIs, Cooper AT3 4s, General Grabber ATX, Nokian Outpost AT, Etc etc etc. Hard to go wrong if you get a main brand with three peak cert.

 

You're probably on the right track with the Falkens, but I've only read about them so wait until some others chime in. I'd say BFG's, but realistically if you need them for rain and snow, probably not your best choice. If you were not dead set on going up a size, I'd say wear out the Goodyears and then choose. That's my plan and we have basically the same truck and same needs for rain and snow. Falkens will be on my list of possible replacements in a few years.

 

You won't be unhappy with that tire. The wildpeaks seem to find traction where other tires don't. That's where they really shine. They're reasonably quiet. Not whisper quiet, just quiet for an aggressive AT. Mileage is okay-ish. These tires are heavy for what they are, and that weight will punish your in-town milage. Not a huge penalty, just a noticable one.

But it's a nice enough tire that I've bought them twice in a row, and they are still a major contender when I start shopping for my next set.

Best tire? Eh, everyone has their opinions on that.

 

IMO opinion KO2 in a c load that size is the best tire you can get. That being said I’m also on my second set of Wildpeaks and plenty happy with their performance, mileage and price. Amazon had them for $180/tire when I bought them last month.

 

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful.

One more question, this time about Load Range. Looks like the Wild Peaks come in either SL (standard load) with a 4 ply rating or E1 with a 10 ply rating. What is the difference? I am not going to be pulling any trailers, etc., although I will load the bed full with gear from time to time.

 

Realistically... weight.

An E tire is a heavy ass tire. I'm of the personal opinion that it's way, way too much tire for a light duty truck.

Others will disagree, as an E load offers the best puncture resistance there is on the trail. This is also true. However, I, like most people, do not take my truck across the sharpened lava fields of outer Ganymede. And that's why I run SLs. Even with taking my trailer and camping gear out into the mesquite ridden desert, the SLs have done perfectly fine by me.

*This has been another Rock Lobster editorial opinion.

 

Put 265 75/16 SL WildPeaks on my truck a little over my month ago.

Night and day difference from the stock Goodyears... especially in snow. Only complaint is I should have swapped them sooner.

 

Welcome and congrats on the purchase. Check out the wheels & tires forum in the navigation pane for some great discussion.

Have a read over here or here. The simple answer to your question is a 4 ply rated tired can handle the load of a 4ply tire whereas the 10 ply rated tire can handle much more load (the equivalent of a 10 ply rated tires). The Es will be heavier and stiffer because they can handle more load. That strength comes at the cost of weight which you should think about because that will impact your Taco's performance. Check out those two hyperlinks, one is to tire rack and the other is a camping website.

If you have a Discount Tire in your area head over there and talk to one of the support staff about SL vs E. See if they have any inventory on hand in the size you want and have them bring out each so you can bounce them around and get a first hand look and feel the differences.

 

OP, check out the Goodyear UT's as well if you haven't yet. Phenomenal tire that flies under most people's radar. Was extremely impressed with them in the snow this winter.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/goodyear-ultraterrain-at.563036/

 

I am similar to you, and I live in Eastern WA, but moving to Montana. I'm running the Cooper Rugged Treks, a bit more aggressive than the normal AT3, and other All Terrain tires, and has easily handled the snow and ice this winter.

An overall, fantastic tire!

 

Thanks for all the replies, super helpful! Sounds like the SL rating is for me.

Another question, if I purchase a 5th tire in 265 75 16 and put it on the stock spare wheel, will the spare still fit under the bed?

-Tim

 

Yes.

 

Search is your friend my guy. Yes is the short answer. Check out this post in this thread. Dude bought 275/70/17s (32") and spare fit fine, then decided on 255/75/17 (33") and the taller tire fit fine.

 

Looks like cooper at4s would suit you the best. If I didn’t take my truck off-road as much, that would’ve been my choice.

 

My 33x10 fit just fine in the stock spare tire location. Just had to deflate it a bit.

 

I added Cooper ST Maxx in this size about 3 months ago, OEM (factory stock) rims.

 

I went with MT Baja Boss AT- besides the road noise, which on longer drives can get tiring (no pun), snow and wet traction is really good. I live on a significant incline and never have issues on unplowed road.

 

Goodyear Ultra Terrain, I really like mine. Good for Michigan weather

 

I would have recommended the awesome Duratracs until you mentioned quiet tire. The Wilpeaks are a good compromise, and are very similar to the OEM Goodyear Kevlar "Highway Tire".