Snow tires

Those look really nice. I haven’t seen them before. I prefer an all terrain for deep snow but a true snow tire is better for hard packed. These look like a great compromise. Are they softer rubber than a normal all terrain?

 

I have found them to be very long wearing, so I am not sure I’d call them super soft. The General Tire info says they are a dedicated winter compound, so I assume they are softer than an all season. This is my third winter on them, with about 4 months running per year. Hardly any wear at all. They are excellent in deep snow and on hard packed snow, they don’t get ground down on gravel, work pretty good in mud. Ice traction without studs is better than an AT, but may not match what a dedicated Ice radial can do on glare ice. They are a good compromise tire. Only downside is they are louder than a k02, but not insane. I like the noise. I assume it means they are working.

picture from this winter.

 

https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/30808/best-winter-tires-for-suv

 

I can say that I have used Firestone Winterforce snows on a rear wheel drive 3 series BMW, on the front only and all four VW Jetta and all four VW Passat ( brand new ones on there now). We recently had 8" of snow and sons report good performance with these tires. They seem to give very good traction in all snow conditions and price is reasonable. They are a softer rubber. I have purchased from both tire rack and Walmart (store upstate NY) where they carry them in stock and get a lot of snow. In fact ,if you look at the rusty cars in the parking lot, most have four snow tires on in winter. My Tacoma doesn't need them here (Firestone Destination A/t).

 

I would put almost zero trust in "The Drive's" recommendations/reviews. Have you looked at any of their lighting reviews? They claim that Auxbeam light pods are acceptable for fog light use!!! WTF!?

The Drive does bases their reviews on incentives. They claim to have in-house experts, review forums, review sales numbers and look at online reviews. But fact of the matter is, they have sponsors get a commission on any sales when you use their links. See the highlighted portion below. Conflict of interest much??



Additionally, they have Nokian on the bottom of the list and claim that they have a high price point. If you compare any of their recommendations, the Nokians are inline with many others. This article suggests a Verdestein tire as well that is claimed to be "economical pricing" but is not. I've installed many tires, driven on many different brands that I can't even pronounce and I have never driven on or seen Verdestein tires on a customer vehicle.

Anyways, rant over. LOL I'm not questioning your morals at all. Just letting you know their articles are hardly even worth a grain of salt. This site has far better educational reviews than they do. In all actuality, the product reviews on TacomaWorld are generally highly regarded and referenced by many that don't own a Tacoma. We have some of the most critical, independent and detail oriented people out there on the web!

 

What About Size?

Just got my Taco today, has 16inch, looking at winter tires..debating to get a set of 16 or 15 inch rims? Can I go to 15 inch for winter?

 

I have not heard of 15" wheels being used on a second gen (6 lug) or third gen Tacoma. I do not believe that they would fit over the front brakes.

 

Thanks, I remember you that usually you could go down a size in general, but messes up your speedometer a bit, going to see if I can find qa take off pair of stock Steeles maybe...I usually run Blizzacks, have been great for winter and I get tons of snow in. Northern Ontario..tried Xice the were good on cars but bought a set and a set of Bliz wifes got X-Ice and Me Blizz.. found the blizzacks to feel and just do a better job of stopping and starting..But considering Nokians or Happas too.

 

Speed btw great avatar lol

 

Buy 4 spare rims. 75 bucks a pop.

 

1st gen is 15" 2nd and 3rd gen is 16" min.

With 16" you can go SR5 tire size 245/75R16, its skinnier and cheaper, so better on ice and easier on the pocket book. I run 245's winter, 265s summer.

 

Mm cool,, I am so tempted to try the happas, I love blizzacks but find after 2nd year they just don't perform as well...probably on 16s..dealer got my blizzacks on my trade in lol they would not fit the new Taco. So 16 it is for my I guess

Can't believe Toyota is using Firestone crap...If you like exploding tires..I guess
Kinda pisses me off for a new truck I was a more trusted brand like BFG or Goodyear

 

https://youtu.be/-iG0F5rycHs

Firestone 70s, 80s and 90s they had major scandals..Don't know this company is still in business, It like no one remembers

 

Never Firestone for me, stuck with these till I get a winter set, and will put on New summers...

 

Anyways, I digress lol...yea 75$ steelies not bad, I find winter hard on them anyways so may as well not spend much on rims

 

History

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-106shrg85219/html/CHRG-106shrg85219.htm

 

Silly question ai have SR5 TRIM, is there any reason I can't put on the 17 inch or tire sizes from other trim levels?

 

No reason you can not put any upsized wheel with appropriate sized tires...

 

Thank you speedfreak, hmm only thing would be might have to adjust speedometer, what about shocks, need adjust for a larger rim?

 

There are 2 specs to look for when getting tires, Revolutions per mile and overall diameter. The factory tires are approximately 659 rev per mile and 30.6" in diameter. As long as you are close to these specs, your speedo will be within reasonable accuracy.

Stock sized tires equipped on the Tacoma are
245/75R16
265/70R16
265/65R17
265/60R18