In 2019, a quarter million of Americans brought home their new Toyota Tacoma. Can you guess what was the first thing they did? They started looking at ways to modify it!
While some people go with lift kits and tuners first, the hands-down best way to start modifying your unbreakable Toyota Tacoma pickup is by getting a new set of all-terrain tires that are just as dependable, if not more. Your tires are the only thing making contact with the road (or the off-road) and they’re tasked with steering, braking, acceleration, absorbing bumps, and more.
When you look at it this way, it’s pretty obvious that a decent set of tires is essential for your driving experience – especially, all terrain tires. All terrain tires bring you the best compromise between off-road traction and on-road comfort, and as a side benefit, they do look pretty mean and aggressive.
Obviously, not all tires are made equal – some are more comfortable but provide less traction, while others are aggressive and grippy but also very noisy. That’s why you should do your research and choose all terrain tires according to your preference and your driving conditions.
We’ll talk more on that at the end of the article, but to help you choose the best all terrain tires for Tacoma, we’ve compiled this top 5 list. It’s divided into categories, hopefully making it easier for you to choose a favorite.
The 5 Best All Terrain Tires for Tacoma
| Best Overall 1. Falken WildPeak A/T3W |
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| Quietest Tire 2. Continental TerrainContact A/T |
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| Best Value 3. Firestone Destination A/T |
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| Best for Snow 4. General Grabber A/TX |
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| Best for Off-Road 5. Dick Cepek Fun Country A/T |
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1. Falken WildPeak A/T3W – Top Pick
Sporting a unique hybrid tread design, the Falken WildPeak A/TW3 ticks all the right boxes and rightfully earns our vote for the best all terrain tires for Toyota Tacoma.
It boasts excellent on-road and off-road traction, a three-peak mountain snowflake severe snow rating, long treadlife, aggressive looks, and above all – very low price. What more could you possibly ask for?
Traction & Durability
Off-road, the WildPeak A/T3W will handle just about anything you throw at it. Excellent tread depth (20/32nds inches), rigid step-down tread blocks and an aggressive upper sidewall provide outstanding traction on rough terrain. The tread blocks are fortified with step-downs and support ramps which prevent the blocks from excessive movement, increasing on-road stability and preventing stones from being trapped between the grooves.
Because of the excellent tread depth, the WildPeak A/T3W performs great in snow and rain, and features a 55,000 mile Limited Tread Life Warranty on all sizes. The large tread depth, in combination with an aggressive tread pattern with full-depth 3D canyon sipes, has earned the WildPeak A/T3W a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol and for good reason – the tire is one of the best in its class when it comes to snow traction.
Moving on to the sidewall, the WildPeak A/T3W features an aggressive upper sidewall with offset shoulder blocks that protect the most vulnerable part of the tire when rock crawling and provide additional traction when aired down.
Noise & Comfort
On the streets, the WildPeak A/T3W rides smooth and feels very refined. Obviously, these tires won’t turn your Tacoma into a race car but they do feel very stable in corners, even in rain.
The noise level is pretty average – just like you would expect from most all-terrain tires, and it shouldn’t be a problem for most people.
Bottom Line
The Falken WildPeak A/T3W is a clear winner overall. The tire is packed with technology and offers outstanding off-road and on-road traction at a very affordable price.
The tire is very stable in the corners and the treadlife is quite decent. When it comes to snow and ice, the WildPeak A/T3W’s are probably the best all season tires for Toyota Tacoma, and they give other tires in its class a run for their money.
Overall, it’s easy to see why the WildPeak A/T3W is so popular among Toyota Tacoma owners, and to that end – it’s our Top Pick as well.
2. Continental TerrainContact A/T – Quietest A/T Tire
All-terrain tires are undoubtedly awesome, but they tend to be rather noisy too.
If you’re easily bothered by noise like me and want your drive back home after a long day at work to be as relaxing as possible, then Continental has got you covered.
Continental spent 3 years testing and fine-tuning the characteristics of the TerrainContact A/T, mainly because they never released an all-terrain tire under the Continental name before. Obviously, the launch was a huge success and the TerrainContact A/T is known as one of the smoothest and quietest all-terrain tires around.
If quiet tires peaked your interest, check out our more detailed reviews on the quietest all-terrain tires and the quietest mud tires.
Traction & Durability
One of the first things you’ll notice about the TerrainContact A/T is that the tread pattern is a bit similar to that of a touring tire. That is because the TerrainContact A/T was designed for drivers who spend roughly 90% of their time on-road and 10% off-road.
It was a smart decision, really. In reality, most light pickups, SUVs and Jeeps are primarily driven around town and on highways – rarely seeing any hardcore off-roading.
Although it’s not a hardcore AT tire, Continental’s TerrainContact A/T is surprisingly capable when taken off the beaten path. The open tread pattern with Continental’s proprietary +Silane technology do a great job of providing outstanding wet traction. In short, +Silane technology uses silica molecules in the tread compound to provide a polymer structure that enhances grip on wet and slippery surfaces, while also providing reduced stopping distances.
Being an M+S rated all-season tire, the TerrainContact A/T does pretty well in snow, mainly thanks to traction grooves with teeth and full-depth sipes. However, the tire does not have the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe-snow rating, therefore if snow traction is your primary focus – you’re better off getting the General Grabber A/TX.
The treadlife is pretty good too. Continental offers a 60,000 mile limited warranty, which gives a rough idea on how long the tires will last.
Noise & Comfort
As for noise and comfort, TerrainContact A/T is unmatched by any other all-terrain tire.
TerrainContact A/T uses variable block sizes with shift optimization and noise blockers in the shoulder to reduce and stop soundwaves from leaving the tire’s footprint. Because of that, the tire rides exceptionally smooth on asphalt and are whisper-quiet, unlike most all-terrain tires.
Bottom Line
If you’re spending most of your time driving your Toyota Tacoma on pavement and hardcore off-roading is not your thing, then Continental TerrainContact A/T is the obvious choice for you.
Continental’s TerrainContact A/T’s are probably the best highway tires for Tacoma – they’re perfect for everyday driving around town and occasional weekend trips down the trails.
3. Firestone Destination A/T – Best Value
If you’re short on cash, the Firestone Destination A/T should definitely be no. 1 on your list.
It’s an all-season all-terrain tire that offers outstanding on-road and off-road traction, sharp steering response, long treadlife and a surprisingly comfortable ride with minimal road noise.
Traction & Durability
The Destination A/T sports an aggressive tread pattern, made from a “Long Link Carbon” tread compound, which improves treadlife and helps resist cracking and tearing. The continuous center rib helps in noise reduction and provides great on-road traction and stability, while wide circumferential grooves evacuate water, further improving traction on wet pavement and reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
The over-the-shoulder tread block design gives the tire excellent traction on the off-road. The massive tread blocks feature sipes and notches which further increase traction on snow and mud.
Inside, the tire is built on two high-tensile steel belts with a polyester cord body. In order to help the tire maintain its original shape and reduce vibration, the Destination A/T is encircled with a continuous nylon wrap.
Noise & Comfort
Apart from great traction on pretty much every surface, the most impressive thing about the Destination A/T has to be the lack of road noise. The Destination A/T feels like a touring tire at times.
The quiet and comfortable ride of the Destination A/T is mainly thanks to the 5 Degree Noise Reduction Technology. It’s a clever design, which shapes soundwaves into direct opposites of each other and cancels them out.
Bottom Line
Outstanding traction on-road and off-road, great stability, quiet ride, and a 50,000-mile warranty at an unbeatable price – these are the reasons why everyone loves the Firestone Destination A/T.
The Destination A/T has been around for well over a decade and it has certainly stood the test of time. Thousands upon thousands of favorable reviews by buyers themselves are solid proof that the Firestone Destination A/T is one of the best all-terrain tires for the money.
4. General Grabber A/TX – Best Snow All-Terrain Tire
In case your Toyota Tacoma sees a lot of snowy and icy roads throughout the year, or you simply enjoy the safety and peace of mind of having winter tires – the General Grabber A/TX is the tire for you
General Tire took the best features of the previous Grabber X3 and the Grabber AT2 in order to make their best all-terrain tire yet – the Grabber A/TX. Just like the previous Grabber’s, the Grabber A/TX is a beast on the off-road and even better on snow and ice.
The tire is severe-snow rated and has the Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake, but you can further improve traction on ice by studding your Grabber A/TX as it’s fully studdable.
Traction & Durability
The Grabber A/TX competes with other top-tier all-terrain tires like the Falken Wildpeak A/T3 and the BF Goodrich K02, but in order to have an edge over the competition, General Tire had to improve it even further. And, they did so by adding new technologies.
The first one is the StabiliTread technology – it gives the Grabber A/TX an improved balance between on-road stability and off-road durability and grip. The five-row tread pattern increases the tire’s footprint, while the addition of multi-angle traction edges provides improved grip off-road, no matter the direction.
It also features beefed-up shoulder scoops which grab onto rocks for that extra grip needed in extreme off-roading – that’s where the name “Grabber” actually came from.
The tire is further reinforced with DuraGen Technology which improves treadwear, maintains flexibility at cold temperatures, and provides outstanding cut and chip resistance. And, as for performance in the snow – the Grabber A/TX rides on-par with dedicated winter tires. The tire features full-depth sipes, which means that it should retain its outstanding performance in snow for the whole life of the tire.
On the off-road, the Grabber A/TX is outstanding and performs similar to multi-terrain tires – a much more aggressive version of the all-terrain tires that are made for serious off-roading. On the other end of the spectrum, the Grabber A/TX is surprisingly quiet and usable on the pavement, however, it’s definitely not the best choice for people that spend most of their time driving on highways. In that case, you’d be better off with the Continental TerrainContact A/T’s.
Inside the tire, you’ll find high-strength steel belts, a two-ply casting, and two polyamide reinforcement plies. As for the treadlife, General Tire provides a pretty impressive 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.
Noise & Comfort
The Grabber A/TX is obviously an aggressive tire that is mostly designed for use off-road or in the snow, however, General Tire did a great job in making the tire quiet and reasonably comfortable on pavement.
General Tire equipped the Grabber A/TX with their proprietary Comfort Balance technology – a tread cushioning system that utilizes an acoustic tread pattern, which provides a quieter and more comfortable ride.
Bottom Line
The General Grabber A/TX is the perfect choice for more serious off-roaders and people that care a lot about having maximum traction on snow and ice.
Its studdable design, sever-snow rating, outstanding off-road traction, and reasonable price point makes it one of the best all-terrain tires around. However, if your Toyota Tacoma rarely sees any snow or serious off-roading, then they might be an overkill and you’re probably better off buying something cheaper and more on-road oriented.
5. Dick Cepek Fun Country A/T – Best Off-Road All-Terrain Tire
Last but not least, we finish our top 5 list with, probably, the best all-terrain tires for off-road – the Dick Cepek Fun Country A/T.
The Fun Country was primarily made for maximum off-road traction and is pretty much as close as you can get to a mud tire without actually having to deal with mud tire drawbacks.
Traction & Durability
The Dick Cepek Fun Country was built on a mud-terrain tire carcass and has an all-terrain tire tread cap. This helps the tire to maintain the more comfortable and more stable ride quality of an all-terrain tire while retaining mud tire grip.
The aggressive tread pattern consists of four ribs, instead of the traditional five, for improved grip in mud and slush, and is infused with silica for improved wet handling and braking. Being an aggressive off-road tire, the Fun Country features stone ejectors on the outer voids and a stepped tread rib design which prevents the ribs from moving around and provides handling stability.
It also features an ultra-strong 3-ply sidewall with large side biters that protect the most vulnerable part of the tire and provide extra grip on loose surfaces.
On the off-road the tire rides excellent and grips the terrain similar to a mud tire. It has outstanding grip on sand and gravel, but the tire does best on mud and slush.
On the other hand, the on-road handling of the Fun Country is average at best for an all-terrain tire. It does ride reasonably smooth and unlike a mud tire, but the lack of proper circumferential grooves makes the tire hydroplane more than the average A/T.
As for traction on ice – it’s not great. The tire is sipped but, in this case, the Fun Country handles below average and you’re better off getting something with a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating.
Noise & Comfort
The road noise with the Dick Cepek Fun Country is just like you’d expect from a tire with an aggressive mud-tire-like tread pattern. It’s not terrible, but it’s pretty much on the same level as of what you’d hear on a dedicated mud tire.
As far as ride comfort goes, the Fun Country is actually pretty good. The treadwear is decent and the tires ride really smooth.
Bottom Line
The Dick Cepek Fun Country is a different all-terrain tire that is geared towards a more off-road performance interested driver. It has a very aggressive four rib tread pattern that is pretty similar to what you would see on a dedicated mud tire, and because of that – the Fun Country is pretty much unmatched by any other all-terrain tire on loose surfaces.
However, if you don’t do a lot of off-roading with your Tacoma, then the Fun Country is probably the wrong choice for you. They’re a bit noisy, don’t do that well in rain and on ice, and the treadlife isn’t that great either.
Best All Terrain Tires for Tacoma Buyer’s Guide
Pick All-Terrain Tires According to Your Driving Style and Conditions
Buying a new set of tires, especially all-terrains, is a big purchase. To avoid wasting money – be honest with yourself. Think about the weather conditions and the type of driving that you do on daily basis and pick accordingly.
If you mostly drive your Toyota Tacoma on the streets and highways, then you don’t really need serious off-road oriented all-terrain tires.
Sure, they do look great on your truck, but can you afford spending over 1000$ for a set of noisy tires with a short treadlife that you’ll probably never fully use? In that case, you’d be better off getting more on-road oriented all-terrain tires – they’re quieter, smoother, last longer, and are cheaper.
On the other hand, if you do some serious off-roading, then a set of more aggressive all-terrain tires or even mud-terrain tires is what you should be looking for.
Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake
Tire requirements are closely tied to the climate zone and the weather conditions that you encounter throughout the year. One of the biggest mistakes that we see people do is buying M+S all season tires when the climate they’re living in actually requires dedicated winter tires. It’s one of the main reasons why you see so many videos on the internet with cars sliding down a hill uncontrollably.
All-season tires are OK for light-to-mild winter conditions like slush and some snow, however, once you add ice and heavy snow in the mix, all-season tires quickly become unsafe.
If you live in a climate zone where heavy snowfall or ice appears regularly every year, do yourself a favor and get severe-snow-rated tires – the ones with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol. They will handle much better than all-season tires, but if the area you live in sees a lot of ice during the winter months – get studded or studdable tires.
Comfort
Not all tires are made equal. Some tend to be annoying and noisy, while others are civilized and comfortable.
There are a few factors that influence how noisy an all-terrain tire will be, but the most obvious one is the aggressiveness of the tread pattern. More accurately – the width of the voids between the tread blocks.
The reason why mud tires do so well in mud is because they have large voids in-between the tread blocks – they essentially work like mini-paddles. However, on the road, large voids between the blocks disrupt airflow and make noise.
If comfort and silence are important to you – avoid aggressive all-terrain tires and chose the ones with smaller voids between the tread blocks. They won’t do as well on loose terrain, but they will ride smoother, quieter, and more stable on the pavement.
Sidewall Protection
The sidewall is the most vulnerable part of a tire. If you’re going to do any rock crawling at all, make sure that the all-terrain tires of your choice have large biting edges on the already reinforced sidewall. Not only do they look cool, but they also provide great protection against sharp rocks and give you more grip on loose surfaces like mud.
Self-cleaning & Stone Ejecting Ability
When an all-terrain tire rolls on a soft surface, it “grabs” the dirt, mud, or snow between the treads. This provides great traction but if the tire is incapable of getting rid of the material that is stuck between the treads, it starts to lose traction and becomes similar to a racing slick.
Mud and dirt aren’t the only things that can get stuck between the tire’s treads. Small rocks love to stick between the treads too, but this time – they don’t necessarily decrease traction, but they do damage the tire. To combat this, good-quality all-terrain tires come with stone ejectors.
If serious off-roading is your thing, then make sure your new tires are self-cleaning and feature stone ejectors.
Eddie is the co-founder of CarCareCamp.com, and the site’s primary contributor.
Under his belt, Eddie has a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Electronics Engineering and almost a decade of experience working as a semi-truck technician (specializing in electrics).
