Nowadays, most SUVs and crossovers use vehicle architectures borrowed from passenger cars. Because of that, they are better suited for road driving, but less suited for off-roading. The good news is that some manufacturers still produce SUVs that can be driven off-road. The only other company with a portfolio of off-road-ready vehicles other than Jeep is Toyota.
Known in North America for its rugged design and superior off-road capabilities, the 4Runner is Toyota’s best-selling off-road model. Having said that, you will need good tires for your 4Runner to perform at its best, especially when you go off-roading. For a 4Runner to be fully reliable and safe, its tires must perform exceptionally well off the road as well as on the road, regardless of weather conditions.
Even the strongest of 4Runner tires can’t handle that task. There are some Toyota 4Runner tires that are better on some terrain types and worse on others, as you will learn here. There is no single tire that works exceptionally well on every type of terrain, much less one that won’t only give you the best road handling but also excellent off-road capabilities.
Another challenge is selecting the right set of 4Runner tires for your vehicle. When you are a newbie off-roader, choosing the right tires can be a nightmare. The Toyota 4runner is an open chassis, so it can accept a variety of tires. There are also many different types and makes of tires on the market today, making life even more complicated.
I am happy to say that we can assist you in any way you need. We are going to give our Top 5 list of the best tires on the market for your Toyota 4Runner in this detailed article, as well as the best products you can buy online. There is also the added benefit of the list being divided into several different categories, so everyone can find a product that fits their needs. In case you do not know what type of tires you need for your 4Runner, please read through the “buying guide” section, that will dissect every tire type that you might need as an average 4Runner owner.
Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ P3
Tires made by Mickey Thompson have a stellar off-road reputation. Featuring deep, aggressive shoulder SideBiters and scalloped shoulder lugs, the Baja is their best-rounded tire – offering excellent traction on sand, rocks, and dirt alike. In addition to this, it performs exceptionally well in sand as well.
With a Silica-reinforced compound backed by a 3-ply Powerply sidewall, the Baja ATZ P3 is also excellent for handling dirty roads. The 4Runner tires provide superior high-speed stability on the road as well as overall safe and reliable driving in dry and wet conditions. Even so, the Baja isn’t the best vehicle to drive in snow.
Among all-terrain tires, the 45,000 mile treadwear warranty is very competitive.
Falken Wildpeak AT3W
There is also the option of Falken WildpeakAT3W All Terrain tires which can be a good option for best 4Runner tires. Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires are one of the best all terrain tires on the market for their deep grooves, which can help greatly when driving in mud conditions. The ability to drive on dirt or sand is also one of its advantages. I’ve also seen them used with rock crawling. I would recommend this tire to anyone who wants a tire that is really designed for off-road applications.
On the street, the performance of the vehicle is also quite good – the handling is very responsive and the tires feel very stable. It is also possible to run the Falken Wildpeak AT3W even in light snow, since it is rated with a 3PMSF rating. Finally, this tire is extremely strong and durable, as well as being covered by a long-lasting warranty of up to 55,000 miles.
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
BFGoodrich’s Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is a great mud-terrain tire if you can overlook its added road noise. It provides excellent traction in mud and excellent traction on rocks, dirt, and gravel.
Krawl-Tek is a racing-derived compound which lends this tire exceptional toughness and also great performance on the road – you’ll actually be surprised at how stable it is when driven rapidly at high speeds. It is rare that it can even be used on wet surfaces, but if you do, these mud-terrain tires of BFGoodrich can deliver.
Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2
There are many tires out there that promise snow traction, but they simply can’t compare to the proper snow tires’ ability to provide it. As well as offering better traction on snow, slush, or ice than an all-terrain tire, the Latitude X-Ice Xi2 is also much better at stopping than all-terrain tires.
Additionally, the traction and grip are also outstanding, especially in conditions where the temperature is subfreezing. You also get a 40k treadwear warranty when you buy the Latitude, which you won’t get from any other winter tires on the market. We would expect Michelin tires to be very expensive, but the X-Ice Xi2 is very much worth the money, based on our experience with it so far.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
A large part of the popularity of the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is due to its outstanding off-road performance. This T/A KO2 provides an excellent level of traction not only on asphalt and concrete surfaces but also on gravel, rocks, sand, and even mud. All-terrain tires require a layer of durability, and Sidewall Armor adds a layer of protection to keep cuts and punctures at bay, so you do not have to worry.
With a very stable high-speed driving experience and good handling, the KO2 offers a highly secure riding experience. Additionally, the 3PMSF rating suggests excellent traction in light snow, while the traction and braking characteristics in wet conditions are also excellent. The fact that the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires will last for 50,000 miles only adds to its appeal.