Toyota is wooing off-road enthusiasts with the new fourth-gen Tacoma through the sheer volume of trim levels—including two new ones—aimed specifically at those seeking to play in the dirt with their trucks. In addition to last year’s TRD Off Road and TRD Pro trim levels, 2024 sees the return of the PreRunner grade along with the all-new, overland-ready Tacoma Trailhunter grade. Comb through the specs on the new Tacoma’s off-road oriented trim levels and you’ll notice that they come with something critical to off-pavement prowess: Big ol’ tires. But that’s factory—what could you decide to fit, should you want to go… bigger?
Achievement Unlocked: 33s Come Stock
This is the first time 33-inch tires have come standard on the Tacoma. Previously, Tacoma enthusiasts needed to find the perfect balance of wheel offset and tire make, model, and size to run with rubber this size. These 33-inch tires (Goodyear Territory R/Ts) are included on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models and optional on the midlevel TRD Off Road.
It’s not uncommon for automakers to design enthusiast vehicles with provisions for fitting larger tires than what comes from the factory. Though the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon arrives at the dealer with 33-inch tires, Jeep designers might as well have embossed “cut here” lines in the plastic fenders making life easier for those who want 35- or even 37-inch tires. (The spare tire mount on the latest Wrangler also was massaged so it could fit larger tires without clearance issues with the third brake light and backup camera, for example.) Similarly, after undoing a few strategically placed fasteners on the new Bronco, fitting larger meats within the wheel wells is a simple affair.
So, Can the Taco Ride on Larger Tires?
On the previous-generation Tacoma, off-roaders keen on fitting 35-inch tires (or larger) and articulate the suspension needed to contend with aftermarket lifted suspension kits and even chopping and relocating the front body mounts. Will fitting 35-inch tires be any easier on the 2024 Tacoma? The short answer is… kind of.
Even though the largest factory tire on the 2024 Tacoma is larger than those on the outgoing Tacoma, there is no way around it—you’ll have to cut some metal to fit bigger tires if you try and go big without adding any suspension lift. Toyota, however, should be offering a factory approved lift kit—like those it introduced on the previous-gen model—to help make space for bigger tires, likely without any of the body-mount shenanigans required on past Tacomas.
Until then, we’re confident the aftermarket will help you raise your new Taco higher off the ground… After all, with the new Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison landing just this week with available 35-inch tires, the midsize aftermarket will be racing to stuff 35s or even 37s underneath the latest crop of off-roaders, Tacomas included.
Read the full article here
