Best Toyota 4Runner Tires – Road and All-Terrain Tire Guide
Meet Austin
Austin holds a technical writing degree and has 5 years of experience working as a Technical Product Specialist at BMW. He is an avid car enthusiast who is constantly watching F1, consuming automotive content, racing on his simulator, and working on his Toyota’s and BMW’s. Austin’s technical writing skills, extensive automotive knowledge, and hands-on experience make him an excellent resource for our readers.
The Toyota 4Runner has developed a reputation of being one of the best all-terrain vehicles of all time. Over its nearly 40-year lifespan, the 4Runner has continually improved to not only perform well off-road, but on-road as well. The 4Runner’s underlying architecture is unquestionably solid, but there are other considerations to take into account to truly optimize their performance. Tires are one of these considerations.
Most vehicles can be fitted with a wide array of tires from different manufacturers with varying tread styles and optimal use settings. For a Toyota 4Runner, the options are doubly as numerous. Since the 4Runner is world-renowned for its off-road abilities, multiple manufacturers offer off-road specific tires for them. That is in addition to the hundreds of on-road-focused tires that are also available.
Since there are so many solid 4Runner tire choices, it can be difficult to whittle down the options. In this guide, we’ll cover the best 4Runner tire options for both on-road and all-terrain uses.
When Should You Replace Your 4Runner’s Tires?
Tread depth, mileage, and time are the three most important factors to consider when thinking about replacing your 4Runner’s tires. The interval in which you should replace your tires is also heavily dependent on the tire’s manufacturer and model.
5th Generation 4Runners come equipped with four standard wheel and tire packages depending on the trim level:
- SR5, TRD Pro, and TRD Off-Road trim levels come with 17-inch wheels and 265/70R17 tires. The OE tire for these trims is either the Firestone Winterforce 2 UV or the Goodyear Wrangler AT/S.
- The Limited trim comes with 20-inch wheels and P245/60R20 tires. The OE tire for this trim is either the Bridgestone H/T D684 or the Yokohama Geolandar G96B.
Generally speaking, most of the tires that come factory equipped on the 4Runner should last in the ballpark of 50,000 miles. However, using mileage as an indicator isn’t the best option. Measuring your 4Runner’s tire tread depth is a much better indicator of whether or not it’s time for a tire replacement.
Toyota suggests replacing your tires when the tread depth hits the 4/32” mark. An easy way to measure tread depth is with the penny trick. Simply grab a penny and insert it head-first into multiple tread grooves on your tires. If the top of Abe Lincoln’s head is consistently visible, it is likely time for a new set.
Tire age is also important to consider. Regardless of tread depth, most tire manufacturers recommend replacing your tires after 6 years.
When Should I Rotate My 4Runner’s Tires?
Tire rotations are an essential service item on 4Runners for one simple reason; front and rear tires wear differently. Getting a tire rotation can significantly extend the life of all four of your 4Runner’s tires and ensure that they all wear evenly.
Toyota recommends that you rotate your 4Runner’s tires every 3,000-5,000 miles. Most owners find that having their tires rotated at the same time as their scheduled oil change is a good strategy. Toyota recommends that tires be rotated in a specific fashion. The rears should move straight forward and the fronts should be moved to the rear in a cross pattern.
Choosing the Best 4Runner Tires For You
Everyone uses their car differently. That fact is especially true when you consider how much a Toyota 4Runner can do. For example, some people rarely use their 4Runner’s true capabilities. There isn’t anything wrong with that, but the right tire choice for someone that drives their 4Runner almost exclusively on asphalt is very different than the best 4Runner tire choice for those that do a lot of off-roading.
Within those two categories, on-road and off-road tires, there are additional considerations that you’ll also need to take into account. What is the weather like in your area? What surfaces will you be driving on during off-road adventures? Do you need a tire that can do both on and off-road driving comfortably? Those are just a few of the questions that you’ll need to answer before pulling the trigger on a set.
Choosing the right off-road tires for a Toyota 4Runner is a very involved and nuanced topic. For that reason, we’ll save the discussion of off-road priority tires for another article. In this article, we’ll discuss the best on-road and all-terrain tires for a 4Runner. While all-terrain tires might be limiting for those that intend to do extremely demanding off-road driving on different surfaces, they will suffice in most instances of backcountry driving.
4Runner Tire Size Variations
While it is always a good idea to follow Toyota’s tire size guidelines for your 4Runner, some owners opt to fit either slightly larger tires or slimmer tires depending on their desired application. When fitting different sidewall widths and sizes, you’ll need to compensate with the size of your wheels as well. As a good rule of thumb, it is a good idea to keep the overall diameter of your wheel and tire combo the same.
There are potential benefits to both upsizing and downsizing your wheels.
The main benefit of downsizing your wheels, and therefore increasing your tire’s sidewall size, is added comfort. Tires with larger sidewalls tend to absorb more road imperfections. That can also be said for off-road driving, as larger sidewalls allow more give and flex. There are also quite a few more poor-weather tires offered at smaller diameters.
There are also benefits to increasing the size of your wheels as well. Typically, tires with a smaller sidewall handle and perform better in dry weather conditions on asphalt.
Best 4Runner Road Tires – Considerations
If most of us are being truly honest with ourselves, 4Runners spend the vast majority of their time on the road. Some never leave the comfort of the asphalt and that’s totally fine! 4th and 5th Gen 4Runners are comfortable and spacious SUVs that are more than capable of being everyday family-haulers. If you find that you use your 4Runner primarily for that reason, you don’t have to concern yourself with the intricacies of picking an off-road tire. That’s one headache avoided!
With that being said, there are still some factors to consider when picking out a good 4Runner road tire too. Here are some of the most important things to consider when purchasing 4Runner road tires:
- Tire Life
- Weather-Related Requirements
- Comfort
- Road Noise
- Price
Since there are so many different aspects of buying a good road tire, you’ll likely have to prioritize a few traits over others. When it comes to road tires, most people prioritize price, comfort, and poor weather ability. Luckily, most big-name manufacturers provide 4Runner tires that focus on those areas in particular. In the following section, we’ll outline some of the best 4Runner road tires with the above considerations in mind.
1) Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza – Best 4Runner Tires / On-Road
- Key Priorities: Comfort, Low Road Noise, Long Lasting
- Purchase Here: tirerack.com
- Tread Warranty: 5 Years / 65,000 miles
- Available Sizes:
| 17″ | 18″ | 19″ |
| 235/65R17 | 255/55R18 | 235/50R19 |
| 245/70R17 | 265/60R18 | 255/50R19 |
There is a reason that Toyota opts to equip Bridgestone Duelers from the factory on some 4Runner models. Overall, they are a very solid option for those looking for maximum comfort and low road noise. Duelers are most at home on highways, so if you have a lengthy commute to work they are a great option.
Dueler H/Ls are an all-season tire, meaning that they will provide adequate traction in most non-severe poor weather conditions. However, user reviews frequently claim that they aren’t the best option for snow driving. If you are looking for an option that’ll work well in severe weather conditions, Duelers might not be the best choice.
Due to their symmetrical tread design that was developed with comfort and noise control in mind, Duelers are perhaps the quietest and most comfortable road tire on this list.
2) Firestone Destination LE 2 – Best 4Runner Tires / On-Road
- Key Priorities: Comfort, Low Road Noise, Budget Friendly, Touring
- Purchase Here: tirerack.com
- Tread Warranty: 5 Years / 60,000 miles
- Available Sizes:
| 17″ | 18″ |
| 265/65R17 | 245/60R18 |
| 245/60R18 | |
In comparison to the Bridgestones listed above, Firestone Destination LE 2s provide superior poor weather performance. Destination LE 2s feature circumferential grooves, zigzag sipes, and sweeping slots that edge out other tires with symmetrical and wide tread grooves on wet or snowy roads. That is reflected in their A-rating for traction on the Uniform Tire Quality Grade index. It is important to note that even with the more advanced tread design, LE 2s are still an all-season tire. Simply put, they’re still not the best option for severe weather conditions.
Like the Duelers, Firestone Destinations are designed for comfortable and smooth city and highway driving. Due to the sophisticated tread and shoulder design, Destinations provide superior dry weather handling as well. Their closed shoulder design also helps to mitigate road noise and keep the cabin quiet.
3) Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best 4Runner Tires / On-Road
- Key Priorities: Comfort, Low Road Noise, Budget Friendly
- Purchase Here: tirerack.com
- Tread Life: 6 Years / 70,000 miles
- Available Sizes:
| 17″ |
| 225/75R17 |
| 235/65R17 |
| 235/70R17 |
| 235/75R17 |
| 245/65R17 |
| 245/75R17 |
| 255/65R17 |
| 255/70R17 |
| 255/75R17 |
| 265/65R17 |
| 265/70R17 |
| 265/70R17 |
| 285/70R17 |
| 295/70R17 |
Michelin Defender is quite a common name in the world of SUV tires. From a purely on-paper standpoint, they’re hard to beat. They are one of the highest-rated tires on the Uniform Tire Quality Grade index, with a treadwear rating score of 720, an A-rating for traction, and an A temperature rating. Most user reports claim that they are a very good jack-of-all-trades tire choice, striking a balance between comfort, steering responsiveness, and poor weather performance.
The Defender has been around for a decade at this point, and Michelin has used that time to learn and enhance their construction. The newest generation of Defender is constructed from a new “Evertread” rubber compound that extends tread life. It is also a very efficient tire. Due to its highly developed tread design, Michelin claims that the Defender can save you up to 65 gallons of gas over the lifetime of the tire.
Best 4Runner All-Terrain Tire Considerations
All-terrain tires are geared toward those that use their 4Runner in more demanding conditions than simple road use. Some common all-terrain applications include basic trail driving, driving in more severe climates, or trying to reach camping spots off the beaten path.
All-terrain tires are meant to be used both on and off-road, with slightly more emphasis paid to off-road applications. Because that is the case, most all-terrain tires aren’t as comfortable, quiet, or responsive as road tires during city driving.
While all-terrain tires provide good traction in most applications, there are still some areas where you might need even more aggressive tires. For example, all-terrain 4Runner tires might not fair well against extremely muddy or snowy surfaces. In those cases, a dedicated mud and snow tire would be the best choice.
Regardless, most 4Runner drivers recognize all-terrain tires as a very solid middle ground that will allow you to get where you want to go most of the time. It is also important to remember that AT tires tend to be more expensive than road tires and also tend to degrade faster.
1) Nitto Terra Grappler G2 – Best 4Runner Tires / All-Terrain
- Key Priorities: Light Trail Duty, Quiet Highway Driving, Long-Lasting
- Purchase Here: tirerack.com
- Tread Life: 50,000 / 65,000 miles depending on compound
- Available Sizes:
| 17″ |
| 235/80R17 |
| 245/65R17 |
| 245/70R17 |
| 245/75R17 |
| 265/65R17 |
| 265/70R17 |
| 285/70R17 |
| 285/75R17 |
| 295/70R17 |
| 305/70R17 |
| 315/70R17 |
| 35X12.50R17 |
| 37X12.50R17 |
| 37X13.50R17 |
Nitto Grapplers are perhaps the most popular all-terrain choice for the 4Runner. There are a few standout features that set them apart from some other options on the market. Compared to many other all-terrain 4Runner tires, Grapplers are known to be one of the longest-lasting. Depending on the vendor, they come with a 50k or 60k mile treadwear warranty which is impressive for a tire of its build.
Most user reports claim that Grapplers perform exceptionally during the initial stages of their life – both on and off-road – but lose a substantial amount of grip around the 30k mile mark. Grapplers are an on-road-leaning tire, meaning that they provide pretty good off-road traction but are more comfortable on the street. They are also pretty quiet due to their variable pitch tread lock design.
In terms of off-road capabilities, Nitto Grapplers have a few tricks up their sleeves. Nitto decided to bolster the Grappler’s construction by including tread block coupling joints to increase rigidity. Grapplers also feature sidewall shoulder lugs which help increase off-road traction.
Generally, Nitto Grapplers are a good option for someone looking for a comfortable tire that provides enough traction to go on light off-road adventures. Most Nitto owners claim that they aren’t the best in deep snow, especially once they start to wear, so be wary of that.
2) Falken Wildpeak A/T3W – Best 4Runner Tires / All-Terrain
- Key Priorities: Snow Driving, Trail Duty, Long Lasting
- Purchase Here: tirerack.com
- Tread Life: 55,000 miles
- Available Sizes:
| 17″ |
| 235/80R17 |
| 245/65R17 |
| 245/70R17 |
| 245/75R17 |
| 255/65R17 |
| 255/70R17 |
| 255/80R17 |
| 265/65R17 |
| 265/70R17 |
| 275/70R17 |
| 285/70R17 |
| 285/75R17 |
| 315/70R17 |
| 35X12.50R17 |
| 37X12.50R17 |
Falken Wildpeaks are a less commonly run all-terrain tire on 4Runners, but that isn’t due to a lack of performance. In fact, they are the most equipped tires for extreme snow and harsh winter conditions. They are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and are unquestionably beastly in poor weather.
They are also comfortable and well-performing street tires as well. Unlike many other all-terrain tires, Wildpeaks were designed with the goal of unparalleled winter weather traction without sacrificing steering feel. Wildpeaks utilize a 3D canyon sipe design that reduces tread wear and improves on-road traction. Their advanced tread design with heat dissipation technology also helps extend their tread life.
The Falkens are extremely long-lasting due to their silica tread compound in combination with their deep tread design. The Wildpeak A/T3 comes with a 55,000-mile tread life warranty for your peace of mind. They are also one of the most affordable tire in their segment, which makes them a very attractive choice. During my research, I failed to find any negatives surrounding the Wildpeak. Everyone that owns them loves them.
3) BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 – Best 4Runner Tires / All-Terrain
- Key Priorities: Jack of all Trades, Wet Weather, Trail Duty, Highway Comfort
- Purchase Here: tirerack.com
- Tread Life: 6 Years / 50,000 miles
- Available Sizes:
| 17″ |
| 225/65R17 |
| 235/80R17 |
| 245/65R17 |
| 245/70R17 |
| 245/75R17 |
| 255/65R17 |
| 255/70R17 |
| 255/75R17 |
| 265/65R17 |
| 265/70R17 |
| 275/65R17 |
| 275/70R17 |
| 285/70R17 |
BFGoodrich KO2s have a lot of history. For that reason, they are the go-to all-terrain tire for a lot of 4Runner drivers. To this point, BFGoodrich has been continually developing and advancing the KO2 for over four decades. They’ve come a long way since their release in the late 1970s.
The current generation KO2 features sidewall construction that is twice as thick as the previous generation and also includes a serrated shoulder design that digs into loose surfaces for superior off-road performance. BFGoodrich takes pride in the KO2s construction, which makes sense as they are very advanced. The tire’s internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon on top of BFGoodrich’s TriGard, 3-ply polyester cord sidewall ply construction.
The KO2’s rugged construction and sophisticated interlocked tread design make them a good option for even moderate/demanding off-road applications. The KO2, like the previously mentioned Wildpeak, is also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. The KO2 is fully equipped to deal with harsh winter weather conditions without sacrificing all-season performance.
Best 4Runner Tires Summary
Obviously, the term “best” is subjective. Everyone has different uses for their 4Runner and the best tire for one person might be utterly useless for someone else. It is important to think about your individual tire needs before you pull the trigger on a set. If you do a lot of city and highway driving and rarely venture off-road, you probably won’t need the added traction that all-terrain tires provide. If you like to venture off the beaten path, all-terrain tires might be the only choice for you.
Within those categories, manufacturers and individual models can vary quite a bit. Some manufacturers focus on longevity over performance and vice versa. It is always a good idea to read user reviews for the tire of your choice to ensure that owner’s real-world experience aligns with your expectations.
