Hi, I have this lift kit installed: PRO-TRUCK LIFT SYSTEM (Stage 1) - TOYOTA 4Runner Base

And my OEM tires are due for replacement. I'm having a kid in february and I have an hour drive on country roads to get to the hospital, so I am thinking it might be a good idea to get fresh rubber on there just in case the weather is bad that day. Preferably something that also does well for off-roading. The OEM tires are mall-crawlers and while they do great on-road, they are completely worthless off-road.

The truck is basically a spare vehicle so treadwear rating is irrelevant and so is on-road ride quality (as long as it's not complete torture). I live out in the country and I have trails out on my property so I would like to get something with more off-road focus.

What size / model tires would you guys suggest for going up in size (but safely within the contraints of my lift) and have better mud / snow capability?

Oops, meant to post this in 4th gen. please ignore

Tires are hit or miss in terms of quality, some times you just get a bad batch regardless of price. Id recommend something 10 ply tho if you drive alot of dirt roads. I jave duratrac wranglers on my runner they do the job

You can’t go wrong with BFG KO2. Great for off-road (except mud). Pretty quiet on highway. Ride comfort is decent. Lasts a long time.

If you want something less off-road-y, then Michelin Defender is a great choice. Very quiet on highway. Great on mileage. Tough enough for mild-mod off-reading.

I like the KO2s a lot- a bit off-road focused but mild off-road to medium off-road minus mud. It does pretty decent on the highway. I do not like them on snow but I also do not like ANY AS or AT on snow except for the DuraTrac (gets noisy though solid tire).

Michelin Defenders and Pirelli Zero AS are good tires that are pavement focused.

Size- I woudl not go any more than 32" or 33" equivalent. 33s should not rub on the inner fenders with that lift but do confirm with the dealer.

Look into the new Baja Boss. I have the ATZ P3. It is a true hybrid tire plus it has silica, both of which are advantages over the KO2, off and on road, respectively.

That's NOT a good thing about a tire.

Well, the DuraTrac lasts a short time, relatively speaking. It is a softer compound than the KO2. The KO2 lasts longer but not like it goes 70K or anything close. It has decent grip on and off road, though the DuraTrac has superior grip everywhere...rocks, sand, slush, snow, pavement. I just could not stand the sound of the DT's as they wore and the treadblock gaps increased. I replaced them at around 15K when they started to howl a bit. The KO2s are maybe 80% of the DT, much quieter, last longer, and I use them till the winter snow arrives. Then I put on Blizzaks or Nokians since I love driving on snowy mountain roads and do some snow-related sports.

I agree the Baja Boss looks like a great alternative and 3PMSF rated up to 35" to boot. But OMG heavy AF. 64# for a 285/70. I am strongly considering these in 35" next go around

Toyo Open Country AT III’s all day long and twice on Sunday!

OC AT3 all the way

What is considered “bad weather” where you’re located? Around here, bad weather requires dedicated snow tires… I run NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA LT3 and I wouldn’t run any lesser tires in the winter. Since you mention off-roading, I’m assuming you’re looking for A/T tires. Any of the 3PMSF rated tires from the major brand should serve you well if you have to deal with occasional snow: BFG KO2, General Grabber ATX, Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek, Falken Wildpeak AT3…

Tire choice: Like @ghabe said, Any reputable AT tire will work well. Yes as pointed out the KO2 is not as good in snow as the Duratrac or a dedicated snow tire. How much is snow a factor in Kentucky???

Tire size: stay stock or the most popular next size with 285s. No wrong choice here. Watch for load rating changes from 265 to 285. No need for "e" rated for mild off roading.


I'm 10,000 miles into a set of GoodYear Ultra-terrains(265 sl rated). They are rapidly becoming my favorite tire ever. Quieter than the Duratracs, more aggressive than other AT options, and really good in snow. Snow and road noise were the most important factors for me. Ymmv if you don't live where winter is all consuming months on end.