TRD Off Road / Road Noise

This is what I read from one of the test drives...

"The first thing that I noticed upon hitting the road was just how smooth and quiet the 3.5-liter V-6 engine was. The next thing I noticed was just how loud and rough the TRD Off-road suspension and its 16-inch Goodyear Wrangler dirt tires were at highway speeds. The TRD suspension was so jarring and bouncy over the expansion joints of the highway that conversation with my co-driver was difficult. It was like trying to talk with someone constantly kicking the back of my seat. I hoped that things would improve when we reached the dirt."

http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/2016-toyota-tacoma/

Yes this is really a thread...Trying to make an informed decision before I spend a bunch of cash.

 

I see 2 options for you.
Buy The TRD Sport. It should have a quieter highway ride.
Buy a 2nd set of wheels and tires for your highway driving and swap for when you want to off road.

 

Cnet guy might be sensitive and not used to AT tires. This GY is not known to be very loud:

"The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar tires provided appropriate ride qualities and proved to be very quiet on the road."

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=175

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...el=Wrangler+All-Terrain+Adventure+with+Kevlar

 

The Wranglers that are coming on the 16 ORs are rated in the top five for noise comfort in all terrain tires on tire rack.

 

The guy is from CNET. He probably drives a prius

 

A little stiffer ride and on-road hummm should an expected compromise for a vehicle you can depend on many many miles OFF the beaten path. I have the new BFG AT KO2s on my 4Runner and they hum a little, and they're certainly stiffer than the stock street tires, but I'm telling you it's scary the places that rig will go.

I agree with most of the folks above, if a little road noise and a stiffer ride are a deal-breaker, maybe a truck isn't what you're after