Buying a new Tacoma SR, question on tires

So I am buying a new truck (SR, 4x4, 4 cylinder auto) for use going around town, and 1-2x a month on local gravel logging roads throughout Maine. I will not be taking it on any real offroading. I work fulltime as a forester, and while 10 plys are nice (my company provided work trucks usually run 10 plys, although ive had 6 and 8 plys on occasion, those work good in half tons as long as i go slower, so no barreling down the Telos road at 45 mph) i dont want the MPG hit that 10 plys bring, so I am looking for a good AT (3 peak snowflake, towns around me are good on plowing, and id use chains in the woods which can get you just about anywhere in my experience) tire that is 6 or 8 ply (preferably 6), or a non-lt tire thats around 115xl load index.

My only issue is the stock tires have nothing in that range (245/75/16), and while id be willing to go up a size or 2, i want to make sure that the tires will work without rubbing while also having enough room for chains on the tires for added traction. Do any of you know any good at tires for that size load range c or d, or non lt at tires with a load index around 115xl?

 

Mickey Thompson Baja boss A/T

Three peak rated and come in a lot of sizes

 

Toyo OPEN COUNTRY ATII would be my choice

 

I have 265/75/16 Toyos on my 2020 SR, they don’t rub but will hit on big bumps. The 2.7 doesn’t like big and/or E rated tires.

 

Yeah 10 plys had my 3.5 feeling it and MPGs took a significant hit too. I’d think a 4 cylinder would be far from ideal.

 

I would stick with the stock or aftermarket P rated tires unless you are having problems with them. LT tires are overkill and a bad trade off for a Tacoma unless you are taking it outside its comfort zone. You lose efficiency, ride comfort, and money for questionable advantages. Also note that there are multiple different stock tire sizes for the Tacoma (245/75r16, 265/70r16, 265/65r17, and some r18 size that comes on the limited).

 

Good to know, if the tires are hitting on bumps then i probally dont want to go to 265/75/16s as with chains i would guess that would be too much.

 

Falken Wildpeak has this size. Rated as Extra Load. Only 39 lbs.

 

thats my main reason for trying to avoid 10 plys. Ive driven enough company provided half tons running 6 plys, and while i couldnt barrel down gravel roads like i could with the 10 plys they were manageable for a half ton (my current work truck actually has them, gvwr around 5.2k lbs), which is why im really trying to find a 6 ply or a non-lt tire with a load index around 112xl or alittle better. I actually ran my current truck (4 banger 2012 colorado ~4k lbs), on destinations with that rating a few years back and they did really well. Given the access cab 4wd tacoma is around 4.1k lbs that weight rating would be great if i could find any 245/75/16 at tires in that rating. If i could find any 114/115xls that would be exactly what id want, but i havent found any of the three while looking the past day or two.

 

I ran 265/70R16 General Grabber AT/X on my 3.5 SR
Same diameter and weight when mounted to aftermarket alloy wheels.
Highway (above 60mph) mileage took a a 1-2 mpg hit.
Otherwise it was a good match.

 

dont know how i didnt find that, this will be the way i go unless i can find any 114/115xl rated tires

 

See below. 255/70/R16. About a pound heavier

 

You’re not going to get a definitive answer here. Everyone is going to say something different, usually just telling you to buy what they bought.

All modern three peak all terrains from name brand companies are very good. You really can’t go wrong.

I personally would not upsize or go with an E rated tire with a 4-cylinder. I also wouldn’t go above a 255 or maybe 265 width.

Besides that, you’ll have to determine how aggressive you want to get. If you want mpgs, look into milder all terrains like the BFG Trail Terrain, Vredestein Pinza, Pireli Scorpion ATR, Nokian Outpost APT, Continental Terrain Contact, Cooper AT3 4s, etc.

Most of the people recommending more aggressive all terrains would be better suited with these.

If you want more aggressive, you’ll get a ton of recommendations. Pick whatever is cheapest. They’re all good.

Final idea: go on Craigslist and buy new take-offs from a TRD Offroad/Pro. Tons of people immediately dump the stock all terrains for cheap.

 

Nokian outpost AT? Comes in 10 ply 245/75R16 I think.

Ah, s, you want 6? My bad

 

Looks like i found my tire for once I get it, only step now is to find the truck im looking for as all the dealers have around me (in the 4x4 2.7 access cab) are white, and while white is a nice color i dont want to deal with the peeling paint issue in a couple of years. Hope to find something in Barcelona preferably or MGM.

 

Michelin LTX A/T2 265/70/16

 

Stock size 245/75/16 BFG commercial t/a traction. All day, every day. 24/7 365. Good luck. Edit: the ltx above would be the best, I would think but it comes with a price. Stay with the stock size, imo

 

I have white. No paint issues going g on 6th year