Tires

Wearing down my third set. I don’t like them, but at this point I know what I’m after. Could use suggestions.

I do lots of highway miles pulling a teardrop trailer. Over 10k in 2024. I also wheel the truck. Think standard fare in AZ. Everyone’s done Bulldog Canyon. You get it.

I want smooth, balanced highway miles. Capacity for a trailer, and the ability to do some reasonable off roading.

Thoughts/experiences appreciated.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/wheels-tires.15/

What size tire do you currently run, and are you planning to run that same size on the new set? Do you care about them having a certain load range (i.e. C, D, E) for towing the trailer? Which wheels are you running - stock 3G or something else, and if aftermarket what are the specs?

 

I’m going to make a suggestion to check out a completely different set of tires that will meet all your needs and then some. They are the Hercules TerraTrac AT X-Venture made by Cooper. Between my Tundra and my Taco I’m now on my 4th set. Just got the 4th set a couple months ago. They have a 60,000 mile warranty and a 2 year road hazards warranty. You ruin a tire within 2 years for any reason, it’s replaced free. They are all season tires with the 3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake certification. I’ve driven them in everything but sand.
My experience -
Pavement - quiet and excellent grip and traction.
Rain, wet pavement- great traction, never any hydroplaning. Great in the rain.
Snow - 3PMS Certification, I’ve driven in snow in the Sierras, Nevada, Utah, Montana and Idaho, performed well, no problems, never needed to chain up.
Off Road - I spend a lot of time off road hunting and fishing, dirt and gravel forest roads, rough rutted logging roads, steep rocky 4wd roads, never a problem. They get me there and back 100% of the time.
Towing - I tow a 3500lb boat. They tow great.
Mud - they aren’t mudders but they clear mud from the treads quite well.
You can probably find these for $60+ cheaper per tire than similar tires.
Over the years I’ve had several different brands but these are the best I’ve had. They are made by Cooper a quality company known for quality and great performance.
If these weren’t really great tires I wouldn’t be on my 4th set. Check them out.

 

I’m aware of the site and search. Was looking for direct consideration, if I could get it.

If it’ll help:
265/75/16. Yes. I’d like to stick with that. SL has been fine. Maybe a light LT. The trailer is only 2k. Stock wheels.

 

I looked them up. The specs are good, with a reasonable tread pattern and lots of siping.

How are they at freeway speeds with 30k miles on them? Smooth? Wear?

My present tires howl and have been hard to keep balanced. Alignment is good.

 

Are you running the sl load? I'd be curious to see them. A guy at work runs 25/75/16 but they are the LT version. If the sl has the same sidewall I like them

 

I've been very happy with the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtremes that I put on my Taco last year. I mostly drive pavement miles, they have been quiet and stay balanced, great rain, snow and dirt road traction.

 

Those Hercules tires that Sprig posted above look pretty good for your application. I'd rock them.

Other option with bias towards highway performance = BFG Trail Terrain. Quiet, balanced performance, light, well regarded, 60k mile warranty and 3PMS rated.

Other popular option with bias towards off-road performance = Falken Wildpeak AT4W. A little heavier and noisier (relatively speaking), but much better off-road, still good on highway.

There's like a bajillion tires in this size and application range. Most are pretty comparable to each other.

 

You mention howl, hope youre religiously rotating as you should...
That's #1 culprit to a noisy tire....
Best balancing tire is a Toyo....
When I researched tires to death, everyone in the industry I spoke to, Toyo was their first #1 pick...
Smooth, dont get E rated, 10 ply on a mini truck.....
SL should be fine...

 

Don’t know the sl off hand. I run 265/65/17 AT , load range E, 10 ply. I’ve had KO’s they had a hydroplaning problem, Bridgestones , they wore out to fast,I’ve had others too but none better than my X Ventures.

 

Hercules are great tires from my experience. Good ride, not much noise and last. I would still have them, but the place I purchased from decided to go big and the price of 4 jumped over 300 per set.

 

Man look at the siping on these bad boys. I would say close second to Michelin LTX.

 

I am absolutely in love with my wildpeaks AT3W.

Ive had:
Goodyear wrangler (SL load)
PIrelli Scorpions (E load)
Wrangler Duratracs (E load)
BFG ko2s (E and C load)

Widpeaks are by far the best tire I have ever owned. Silent on hwy, great in rain, snow and offroad. They do suck on icy roads but what tire thats not a dedicated winter or studded tire doesnt. Im running 255/80/17 E load at 52 pounds, my next set will be same. Or the new AT4W, whichever is available.

Wildpeaks do come in SL load in stock tacoma size. Also in SL load, they got more silica in the compound making them even grippier, the only downside is that they wear out a bit quicker.


Ive had my tires for ~4 years now and put on about 30K miles. Tread still looks amazing, considering hundreds of miles spent off road on sharp rocks, FSRs etc. Last year ive been towing quite a bit as well, great tire.

I live up north where the winters are cold and there is lots of snow, these tires do very well. I highly recommend.


They also do really look great: