New to me 2012 Taco, feeling low

Hi guys, I just bought a 2012 taco from a dealership. It's the 2wd extended cap, base model, with a leer camper shell. I live in RI, and everything rusts away here in no time, so I was interested in this truck because it spent most of its life in Texas and NC.

I've got the steel wheels with P215/70R15 tires, and it just looks like tiny wheels on a truck.

What can I do to make this look better? The cheapest would be bigger tires. I read I can go up to P235/75R15? Does that look better?

Also, the wheels itself look a bit crappy as it is. It looks like rust/paint peeling off. Not sure.

If I want different wheels, what should I look for. I've got 5 lugs and all pics that I'm seeing are 6 lugs. I don't know shit about fuck when it comes to wheels and tires.

 

Welcome.
@PennSilverTaco can answer most of your questions.

 

Any 5 lug Toyota will fit yours
6 lug are for the 4.0 engines mostly

you could clean up your rims “before new tires” and paint them
Not sure how wide your 5lug rim is 7.5 maybe, I would think those tires would fit, but there are more knowledgeable people here for that one

 

I ran 225/70R15 Cooper Discoverer AT/3s on my truck for the longest time, but then I got 2" lift and those looked small; It was time for new tires anyway so I upped the size to 230/75R15. I have no idea if your wheel wells will clear the larger size without a lift kit; As for dressing up shitty looking stock steel wheels, I bought a set of $60 chrome wheel skins on Amazon and had my uncle who owns a refinishing business paint the centers black.

 

Don’t quote me on this but Ford Fusion(?) rims bolt right on and look f’n killer. Edit: now is a great time to be a 5 lugger! The question is… can you handle it?

 

About the only thing a Ford Fusion is good for; My cousin owned one and says it was the biggest pile of shit she's ever owned...

 

See? Chicks are writing these things off, daily. Check the wrecking yards. I know you’re going to come out of this smelling like a rose. Then I’d slap some KYB gas adjust shocks on it and call it a day Post pics when you’re done. Class dismissed

 

He doesn’t have our Escape.

 

She; My cousin's a girl, LOL...

It was a 2009 Fusion, the newest car she's ever owned at this point in her life because after her experience with the Fusion she prefers older foreign cars...

The Fusion replaced a 2006 Scion TC that got totaled by a red light runner; Luckily she paid cash for the Fusion. She is currently driving a 2004 Honda Pilot that she bought at a drug auction; Apparently the person the Pilot was seized from used it to smuggle cocaine!

 

eBay 2” leveling kit. Add a leaf in the back. 5100 rear 6 lug shocks plus 2”. 31’s on 16’s. 5 lug 2wd

 

I remember your 5 lug from past threads and was going to send OP your way...looks like you beat me to it!

 

Two easy options for bigger wheels without any suspension modification required. I did both upgrades and each was incrementally better.
1. Keep the 15" steel wheels and upsize tires to 235/75/15
2. Upgrade wheels to 16" 5-lug wheels from Highlander with 235/70/16. I found wheels on Facebook Marketplace.

 

What year should I be looking for? These just bolt right on? They don't rub? How do you deal with the TPMS sensors? Do they still work, but you need to get a dealership to reprogram them?

 

Easiest swap is Toyota wheels from Highlanders, RAV4s, Siennas, and some Camrys.

My 2015 with 16" RAV4 wheels:


My 2013 with Highlander 16" wheels:

 

The highlander wheels I used are mid-2000s. They fit exactly for bolt pattern and hub size. This is the benefit of using Toyota wheels from similar year. Search the forum for other options like Rav4 wheels too. Plenty of clearance with no rubbing with both options I outlined previously. With the larger tire diameter, you will notice a little bit of speedometer difference. At 65mph, it's about 3-4 mph faster than what the speedo tells you.

For the Highlander wheel swap, here's what was involved:
1. Different lug nuts - The OEM lugs for steel wheels wont fit so you have to switch to mag style lugs like these.

$30 Dorman 611-212 Wheel Nut M12-1.50 Mag - 21mm Hex, 46.5mm Length Compatible with Select Toyota Models, 10 Pack (OE FIX)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CIXMCI?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
2. TPMS Sensors - This was the biggest hassle in the process. I ended up getting set of 4 from Amazon. - They have adjustable angle. Tire shop was able to program them to the truck.

$50 MORESENSOR 315MHz TPMS Tire Pressure Sensor 4-Pack | Compatible with Lexus & Toyota Select Models | Replacement for 42607-33011 | Clamp-in | NX-S008-4

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CW1XRM?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
3. Tires 16" - I got Kumho Road Venture AT51 tires from Walmart at a reasonable price, but there are lots of good options out there.
4. Wheels - I got the Highlander wheels off FB marketplace
5. Center Caps - I bought the center caps from ebay.

 

TheBigKahuna, I like those Highlander wheels on your 2013 Tacoma. I would like to change the stock 15" wheel rims on my stock 2012 Tacoma Regular cab with those. Do you know what the Toyota part number is for those wheels ? Thanks in advance.

 

They were Toyota OEM wheels on 2001 - 2007 Highlanders.
Parts numbers 4261148080 4261148090 4261148270, I think.
I've found the best place to look is Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

 

Thank you sir, I'll be on the lookout for a set of these on Craigslist.

 

Facebook Marketplace has a better, more active classifieds than Craigslist.
You don't have to participate in all the social media bullshit, just sign up to use the marketplace.

 

Thanks! I'm going for 235/75/15 on the original rims, and the 3" lift kit whenever I find someone who can install it.