Tires for towing travel trailer

Hello everyone,

I have tried my best to search for answer before posting but would love some input on my question.

I have a 2012 Tacoma 6-cylinder 4wd Base SR5. Currently running refurbished Nokian P245/75R16 tires that have about 45,000 miles on them. They have been great as daily tires.

I want to put some new tires on as I am getting a 2018 Zinger Lite travel trailer (~3000lbs) for better reliability. I originally was thinking of getting some LT265/765R16 with a E rating for the strength but found threads saying the Taco won't exceed any weight so E rated/LT tires are just overkill.

Then I started looking for P265/75/R16 with a standard rating but started to wonder if I should stay with the original size of 245.

What do you guys think is wise, stay with 245? Is 265 useless? I understand its just changing the width by a little amount but would love some input. Thank you!

 

265/70/R16 was stock size for TRD OffRoad models so you could go to those without issue if you want a wider tire.

 

If your trailer is loaded correctly, you won’t see much more that 300-450 lbs more on the rear tires.
I don’t see any reason why you would need E-rated. They will ride rough and weigh more.
I’d go 265/70/16 for a bit more traction and call it good.

 

My vote is to make sure that you have good quality tires on the trailer and that the lugs are torqued to spec and that the trailer tire pressure is appropriate. Next, use a weight distribution hitch. Finally, make sure the trailer brake is working correctly and that the tongue weight is within spec.

Then, wash the Taco and give the Nokian a shine and be on your way to the great outdoors.

 

You don't NEED E rated tires to tow anything a Tacoma will tow. Standard load, or P rated tires will carry far more weight than the Tacoma will handle. E rated tires do carry more weight, but you'd have to move up to a truck with 10,000 lbs GVWR to take advantage of them. A Tacoma has just over 5000 lbs GVWR.

Many larger tire sizes are only available in an E rating. If you move up in tire size much over 265/75/16 you may have to go with E rated tires. They are a tougher tire. If you drive a lot on rough, rocky trails and roads the sidewalls of a standard tire is far more likely to be cut and fail than an E rated tire.

E rated tires are much heavier. Around 50-55 lbs depending on size, closer to 60 lbs with oversize tires compared to 38-40 lbs for factory tires. That, combined with larger diameter tires will reduce power and make it harder to pull the trailer.

A 265/70/16 is the same diameter as your current tires and about 1" wider. A 265/75/16 is both 1" wider and 1" taller. The 265/75's will cost you a little power pulling a trailer, but you should be fine with a 3000 lb trailer. That is the size I use and have pulled over 4000 lbs without any problems. I wouldn't want to pull over 5000 with a Tacoma regardless. 265/70's are a less common size. I found many more options, and better prices with 265/75's. In a standard load tire that size won't hurt anything with a 3000 lb trailer.

Is the trailer 3000 lbs dry, or is the GVWR of the trailer 3000 lbs? If it is 3000 lbs empty you could be 4000-4500 lbs once loaded. If the latter I might stay with the smaller 265/70. Especially if you tow in mountains and at altitudes over 5000'.

 

I tow confidently and comfortably on my nerdy ol SL rated tires. I've pulled the camper over some pointy rocks and not sweated it one bit.


That said, I don't buy refurb/retreads. I buy new.