When choosing the best tires for your Toyota Tundra, it’s important to consider your lifestyle needs first.
Once you know what you need from your tires, you can consider what you want your tire to look like. Both of these factors are important. You want your tires to look good and do the job you need them to do.
In this article, we’ll review some of the tires currently on the market. Perhaps one will be what you’re desiring.
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Comparison of the Best Tires For Toyota Tundra
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How to Choose Tires for Your Tundra
When choosing tires for your Tundra or any vehicle you might own, it’s important to ask yourself a couple of questions. Many car owners feel overwhelmed when trying to choose the right tire because they have failed to narrow down what they’re looking for in the tires.
What Do You Need From the Tires?
This question is the most important to answer. Determining what is required from the tire once installed on your Tundra will help reduce the tire types you search for dramatically. If you’re a construction worker who uses their Tundra to carry loads or pull trailers with equipment, you’ll need a different tire than someone driving to the office daily.
Photo credit: gfycat.com
What Style of Tire Do You Like?
Sadly, this comes in second, though everyone wants it to be first. Knowing what look you desire is important. How our vehicles look is a resemblance of our personalities. Not to mention we spend a large part of our lives in our cars so you should be happy with how it looks. Do you like the street look, or are you more of an off-roader? Perhaps you are somewhere in between and desire an all-terrain look. There’s a tire out there to match your needs and desires.
What Kind of Weather Conditions Will You Be Using Them in?
Lastly, don’t forget to consider the harshest weather your tire might encounter. If you live in the Northern United States, then having a tire designed for snow is an important detail, whereas if you live in the south, preparing for hurricanes or severe thunderstorms might be a consideration.
Overall
Once you know the answer to these three questions, finding the best tire for your Toyota Tundra will be easier. Be flexible with your desires but stick firmly to your needs. Don’t compromise when considering what Mother Nature might throw at you either. Having the proper tire in adverse weather can be the difference between life or death.
Review of the Best Tires for Toyota Tundras
Below are some tires we feel are the top tier of tires currently on the market. When choosing tires, it’s often a matter of preference; hopefully, some of the tires below will give an example of what you’re looking for in a tire.
Best Overall:Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
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PROS
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Nice radial street design
- Designed for wet and snowy weather
- Quiet on paved roads and good for city commutes
- Tread pattern is good for dirt roads and similar terrain
CONS
- Generic looking
- Not for more extreme off-road conditions
What Recent Buyers Report
Most customers who purchase the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S tire are quite happy. The radial street design and a tread pattern that’s good for wet and snowy weather make it suitable for the northern citizens who drive primarily in the city but face inclement weather conditions.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S All-Season tire stands out to us because it covers city driving conditions that might include snowy weather. Its radial street design keeps the tires quiet on city streets, giving a pleasant ride to and from the office. The tread pattern offers better traction in snow, rain, and the occasional venture onto dirt roads that might get muddy. These tires are also made in the United States, which can be important to some buyers. Because of these qualities, we feel it’s one of the best tires for a Toyota Tundra.
Bottom Line
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S All-Season is our best overall because it fits the needs of many drivers whose everyday commute is in the city. It offers better traction in snow and rain than other tires and can handle some dirt roads. We feel these attributes are essential to be one of the best overall tires for Toyota Tundra.
Runner-up:Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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PROS
- Long lifespan
- Good in snow
- Great wet weather traction
- Good for fuel conservation
- Radial design offers a quiet ride for city commutes
CONS
- Common appearance
- Not for all-terrain use
What Recent Buyers Report
The consumers that bought the Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires are mostly happy. Some purchasers were so delighted with the tires they purchased another set when the time came.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S All-Season tires stand out to us because they’re designed specifically for the city driver. They have a lifespan of 70,000 miles and add nearly nothing to road noise. They have excellent wet weather traction, so if rain is frequent in your area, they might be a good match. They’re decent in snow also and are known to reduce fuel consumption. So if you’re often taking long road trips, these tires might be the best tire for your Toyota Tundra.
Bottom Line
We understand not everyone who has a Tundra needs an aggressive all-terrain or off-road tire. For that reason, we included the Michelin Defender LTX M/S All-Season for those who desire a quiet, comfortable ride when driving around town; if this sounds like you, this type of tire might be the best tire for your Toyota Tundra.
Best for the Money:Nitto Terra Grappler G2
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PROS
- Good looking
- Great traction in snow
- Good in most light off-road environments
- Long-lasting for an aggressive tread pattern
- Radial design gives a quiet ride on city streets
CONS
- Slightly heavier tire
- Not much sidewall grip
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers of the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 were so pleased with the purchase we had difficulty finding any cons. Some buyers even reported they were able to go 77,000 miles on their set before replacing them. Often they repurchased these types of tires.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 Traction Radial stands out because when we looked for a tire to meet our standards, we found these checked all our boxes. It’s a good looking tire that offers excellent traction in snow and moderate off-road environments but isn’t incredibly loud on city streets. With reports of this tire lasting up to 77,000 miles, consumers often replace their old sets with a new set of these. All of this, for a reasonable price, and it’s easy to see why they’re the best tire for your Toyota Tundra.
Bottom Line
You’ll receive a massive number of miles on this tire, while you can easily venture off into snowy conditions. While it may not have much sidewall grip, it’s still excellent for most off-road conditions, giving you that tread you need.
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Best Toyota Tundra Mud-Tires:Cooper Discoverer STT Pro
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PROS
- Good paved road traction
- Armor Tek3 construction for better durability
- Tread pattern made for all-season off-road environments
- Tread design prevents rocks from getting caught in tread
- Tire’s shoulder is engineered with soft surface cleats and mud scoops
CONS
- Noisy on paved roads
- Shorter lifespan than radial all-terrains
What Recent Buyers Report
People who chose the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro All-Season, report satisfaction with the tire’s performance. Many chose this tire because it offers excellent off-road performance, especially in muddy situations. Some commented on the vehicle’s noise on paved roads and added that it’s no worse than other tires with similar tread patterns.
Why it Stands Out to Us
When it comes to mud-terrain tires, the tread pattern is vital. One looks at these tires and realizes that they’re a tire made for mud though they are listed as an all-season tire. The wide grooves and mud scoops will help dig you out of some of the sloppiest terrain.
If you can keep these tires spinning, they’ll continue to throw mud and other debris from the tire’s tread, ensuring you maintain traction and forward movement. Every tire has its limitations, but with the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro All-Season tires, you’ll be hard-pressed to find what these tires can’t handle. It’s for this reason we believe these mud-tires are the best tires for Toyota Tundra.
Bottom Line
This tire is built with stamina and durability, so you can throw many adverse conditions at it and it will keep going. It has excellent mud scoops, which will aid you in the harshest environments. Stones will also struggle to get into the treads, so you won’t need to spend any time cleaning them out.
Best Tundra Tires for Towing:Michelin Defender LTX M/S (Light Truck)
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PROS
- Long lifespan
- Load capacity 3,640 lbs. (each tire)
- Fuel saving tread pattern
- Radial design for quiet city driving
- Excellent in snow and wet weather
CONS
- Bland in appearance
- Not for off-road conditions
What Recent Buyers Report
Reviews for the Michelin Defender LTX M/S for light trucks are consistently positive. This is probably due to these tires being chosen for performing the specific task of towing.
Why it Stands Out to Us
While it might seem like these tires were mentioned above in the “Runner-Up” category, these are slightly different tires. The tread design and overall appearance of this tire are the same, but there is one slight difference. These Michelin Defender LTX M/S All-Season Radial tires have an “E” rating to them. This “E” rating signifies the tire has a ply rating of 10 and a load pressure of 80 psi. Because of this designation, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S All-Season Radial tire with an “E” rating stands out as the best Tundra Tire for towing.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for tires to withstand a load, these tires might be the right choice. They have good traction in inclement weather and offer a longer lifespan than other tires. Another good quality of these tires is their design lends itself to better gas mileage. If you’re often carrying heavy loads, you understand the importance of this quality and why this is one of the best tires for Toyota Tundra.
Best Tundra All-Terrain Tires:Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
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PROS
- Great looking
- Good in medium off-road environments
- Stone ejectors help to dispel stones caught in treads
- Heat diffuser dissipates heat when carrying large loads on pavement
- Aggressive upper sidewall protects from sidewall punctures and adds grip when deflated
CONS
- Noisy and slightly rougher ride
What Recent Buyers Report
Overall, buyers are happy with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires. They like the aggressive look these tires offer for being an all-terrain tire. They report a minor decrease in gas mileage and a slightly rougher ride for being listed as a radial. Many choose to overlook these blemishes due to the tire’s good looks.
Why it Stands Out to Us
These Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires stand out as the best all-terrain tire for Tundra because they offer superior handling in moderate off-road conditions while still being useful on city streets. They also do well in snow and other inclement weather conditions. Because of these attributes, it’s genuinely an all-terrain tire. If your lifestyle sometimes takes you off paved roads or sometimes takes you onto paved roads, these tires might be the best tires for your Toyota Tundra.
Bottom Line
You’ll find a good balance here between off-road and city-street environments. Whether you want a drive at night in urban areas or hit the mud, you’ll find that it performs exceptionally well in both conditions. They even excel on snowy surfaces when the weather turns cold.
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All-Season vs All-Terrain Tires
How do all-season tires differ from all-terrain tires? This is a fairly common question. The answer can be found in the name of the tire. All-season tires are designed for different weather conditions. In comparison, all-terrain tires are designed for different terrain types.
Is One Better than the Other in Certain Scenarios?
Yes and no, while some all-terrain tires are perfectly adequate for city streets and acceptable in moderate off-road conditions, all-season tires aren’t recommended for off-road conditions, except for the occasional dirt road.
However, the all-season tires typically get better gas mileage and have longer lifespans. If 90% of your driving is city streets with a rare hard storm, then an all-season might be best.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S All-Season
Can They Be Used Interchangeably for Most Situations?
An all-terrain can usually be interchanged for an all-season, but an all-season can’t typically be exchanged for an all-terrain. The reason is that all-terrain tires have particular tread patterns made for conditions such as mud, rock, and other debris that might be hazardous to other tire types. However, those aspects of the all-terrain lend themselves to being quite suitable for city driving in harsh weather.
While all-season tires might be designed for extreme weather environments, they aren’t designed to handle the dangers rougher terrain poses to tires. It’s like wearing a dress shoe with a grippy sole versus wearing a hiking shoe. You’re fine wearing the dress shoe in lousy weather to the office, but you wouldn’t want to hike a trail in them.
What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean?
Below we have added a diagram to use as a visual aid to determine what size tires you might need.
Tire Numbers Diagram
The numbers on the side of a tire might seem overwhelming, but they are quite simple once you understand them fully. Here we go into detail about how to read these numbers and letters.
There are three sets of numbers on a tire and the letter “R.” The first number in this series represents the tread’s width, measured in millimeters, from outer sidewall to inner sidewall when mounted on a wheel; this is known as the section width. So, if the first number is 265, then the section width is 265 mm.
Next is the two-digit number after the section width; this number is known as the sidewall aspect ratio. This number is probably the most misunderstood in all tire sizes. Many think it tells the tire’s height as an actual measurement in millimeters or inches; this isn’t the case. The sidewall’s size from the rim to the top of the tread is shown as a percentage of the section width.
Falken Wildpeak AT3W All-Terrain Radial
Therefore, in 265/70, the height of the sidewall is 70% of 265mm. 265 * 0.70 = 185.5. To convert this to inches, we use 185.5/25.4=7.3, as 25.4 is the millimeter to inches conversion. But, keep in mind this is only the sidewall height from the rim to the tread’s top. To determine the tire’s overall height, you must multiply the ratio by 2, then add the rim’s diameter.
How do we know the diameter of the rim? The rim’s diameter is represented by the third number following the letter “R.” The R is for a radial construct, which in layman’s terms is the hole in the center of the tire. If the number is 16, the tire’s rim size will be a 16-inch rim. So the tire height for a 265/70R16 would be 265 * 0.70= 185.5. Convert 185.5 into inches by dividing by 25.4, and you get 7.3. Now, 7.3 * 2= 14.6. 14.6 + 16 = 30.6. So your overall tire height is 30.6 inches.
What Size Tires Do I Need?
Using the information above, you can now look at your current tires’ sidewall to determine what size tires you need for your Toyota Tundra.
Conclusion
In the end, remember that before searching for new tires, ask yourself a couple of questions. What do I need my tires to do? And, what kind of look do I want my tires to give to my Toyota Tundra?
Knowing the answers to these two questions will drastically improve your search results and cut down on time searching. We hope this article helps you in your quest to find the best tires for your Toyota Tundra.
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People Also Ask
We feel that there are always a few questions unanswered but weren’t needed in the article’s main body. So, we did our best to determine some of the most common questions and include them below. We hope we were able to include yours in our list.
What is the Proper Tire Pressure for a Toyota Tundra?
The proper tire pressure for a Toyota Tundra is dependent on the type of tire and the rating of that tire. Tires with an “E” rating might run at 80 psi. Others with a lower rating have a max of 35 psi. The recommended tire pressure for your tire will be designated on the sticker inside your driver’s doorsill.
How Do You Extend the Life of a Tire?
Extending the life of a tire involves tire maintenance. Have your tires rotated when you have your oil changed, and remove any debris that might get stuck in the treads like rocks.
How Often Should I Rotate My Tundra’s Tires?
Generally, rotating your tires when you have your oil changed is a good rule to follow. This will help prevent forgetting to rotate them later.
Nitto Terra Grappler G2 Traction Radial
What is Speed Rating on Tires?
The speed rating informs the driver of the speed that a tire can safely operate over a prolonged time. A higher speed rating can also mean better control at increased speeds. Also, the tire can endure the added heat higher speeds produce. Normally, tires with higher speed ratings also perform better at slower speeds.
Tire manufacturers test their tires and assign their speed ratings. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has a set rating scale these manufacturers must adhere to. The sidewall of each tire will be one of these speed rating codes:
- M = Up to 81 mph
- N = Up to 87 mph
- P = Up to 93 mph
- Q = Up to 99 mph
- R = Up to 106 mph
- S = Up to 112 mph
- T = Up to 118 mph
- H = Up to 130 mph
- V = Up to 149 mph
- W = Up to 168 mph
- Y = Up to 186 mph
- Z = For tires rated above 149 mph, a Z rating may appear in the size designation