Tires, but I have specific questions

Ok so I'm a new Taco owner as of last November. The stock Dunlop's are down to minimal tread life and need to be replaced. So my variables are towing, PA winters (snow), mountain trips (225 miles one way all highway) which 50% of the trips I'll be towing, off-road use on mild trails up my cabin area especially hunting season, but also live in the city (Philadelphia). So I am trying to figure out a good tire that won't suck in the snow/mud conditions, but will also be good for towing 4 ATV's on a landscaping trailer for 2+ hr trips one way. Looking bad ass with some meat is also a plus! I'm sure tire threads have been addressed in the past, but most of them talk only about 4X4'in through the woods/mud lol. Thanks ladies and gents for the time reading/replying.

 

If you don't mind me asking what size tire are you wanting to run on your Tacoma?

 

Thats where my confusion runs slighty. Ive owned several cars, and now this is my 4th truck. But never had the first 3 long enough to change the tires since they were fairy new when i got them (and all three were 05' F250's which is a diff truck). So with the stock height and it has P265/65/17R's on it now. Im not sure how big of a tire i should go, or if i should consider getting a smaller rim down to a 16 or 15 to make room for a larger tire given all the things i mentions id be using the truck for above. I dont do a LOT of off-roading but when i go hunting i have to go back some pretty rough terrain to get to my stand and a street tire will have me stuck ya know.

 

Change rim sizes won't help or hurt anything. The only thing that matters is the height and width of the tire. You can get almost exactly the same thing with 15, 16, 17, 18, or even 20" rims.

Most Tacoma's will take a 31.5" tall tire about 10" wide with no modifications. I'm not certain what size that would be on a 17" rim. This may help

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-size-calculator

Any bigger and you'll need to lift the truck and possibly re-gear the axles.

Don't get too carried away with aggressive treads. Most All Terrain tires will easily do what you want to do. They cost less, wear longer, make less noise, and ride better.

Playing with the link a 265/70/17 is about as big as you can go with no mods.

 

15" wheels don't readily fit 2nd gen Tacomas. Best to stay with 17" or drop to 16"

If you don't have a lift you can safely fit 265/70-17 or 265/75-16 tires. That'll give you about an inch more rubber and there's a lot of quality options in those sizes.