A good set of off-road tires are beneficial for your 4runner as they can carry your vehicle over rocks, boulders, dirt, and other types of uneven surfaces. Such tires are also very durable as they have tougher sidewalls to absorb the impact of rocks and damage from all off-road hazards.
If your 4runner frequently switches between different terrains, you should opt for all-terrain tires. For most of the 4runner owners, a well-rounded all-terrain tire offers the best of both worlds. But if the wheels on your 4runner are always scrambling away off the beaten track, mud-terrain tires would be more appropriate.
The Top 5 Best Off-Road Tires for Toyota 4Runner
Here’s an overview:
Best options for stock sized rims (17 inches):
- Mickey Thompson Baja MTZP3 Mud Terrain Radial Tire – LT285/70R17 121Q (Editor’s choice)
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W All Terrain Radial Tire-265/70R17 121S
- Mastercraft Courser AXT2 All Terrain Tire – 265/70R17 115T
Best options for after-market wheels:
- TOYO Open Country RT All Season Radial Tire-LT285/75R16 126/123Q
- Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure w/Kevlar-LT275/70R18 125R
1. Mickey Thompson Baja MTZP3 Mud Terrain Radial Tire – LT285/70R17 121Q (Editor’s choice)
The most aggressive option among the pack…
Pros:
- Improved cut and chip protection
- Has a self-cleaning tread pattern
- Efficient and responsive handling
- Load capacity of 3195 pounds
- Affordable
Cons:
- Noisy
The Mickey Thompson Baja MTZP3 is another great off-road tire that is built on the legacy of a legendary and proven construction design. The proprietary compound and the innovative design of this tire deliver versatile mud terrain performance and provide excellent traction on both on-road and off-road.
This tire has multiple features including a silica-reinforced tread compound that enhances wet performance, longevity, and cut/chip resistance. The sidewalls of the tire are reinforced with power 3-ply sidewall construction for sidewall protection and better handling overall. The tire has also been rated for load range E.
Additionally, its self-cleaning high-void tread pattern and angled shoulder scallops provide additional off-road traction. Lastly, this tire also has stone ejectors and variable draft angles that help to reduce stone retention.
However, these tires are capable of making a lot of noise on-road which can result in an uncomfortable ride. I won’t be wrong to say that this is a great off-road tire but it could be quieter.
2. Falken Wildpeak AT3W All Terrain Radial Tire-265/70R17 121S
Offers the most all-season practicality and usability…
Pros:
- Has the deepest treads
- Durable off-road capability
- Superior tread wear resistance
- Comes with warranty
Cons:
- Poor traction in muddy conditions
The FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W tire is engineered for adventure at any time and in any weather. This tire combines aggressive off-road ability and rugged terrain driving without compromising on the pavement.
AT3W offers a list of features including having the deepest tread patterns in the category which provides long-lasting wear as well as consistent snow and hydroplane resistance throughout the life of the tire, the rigid and rugged tread block features provide tread-pattern rigidity in the contact patch which enhances vehicle stability and handling.
The tire has an aggressive upper sidewall along with offset shoulder blocks that protect the tire from sharp rocks and provide additional off-road traction. Additionally, this tire also has internal cooling protection as it has heat diffuser technology in the lower sidewall that dissipates heat to protect the internal tire components.
Lastly, AT3W also comes with a 55,000 miles tread life warranty. Although these tires come with many features, it is to be said that the mud traction of this tire is not as good as other off-road tires listed below.
3. Mastercraft Courser AXT2 All Terrain Tire – 265/70R17 115T
Equally capable with a lot more comfort than its competitors…
Pros:
- Excellent traction in light snow
- Ensures smoother ride
- Block out the noise
- Thick cleats
- Comes with warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
The MasterCraft Courser AXT2 is a tire with stronger off-road capability and performance and is another great pick for your 4runner. This tire provides a smoother and quieter ride even on tough terrains ensuring a safe and comfortable ride.
The tire has strong armor ribs that are located between the tread blocks, providing a barrier to protect the tire from stone drilling and rocks. This tire has thick and jagged cleats that are made of rubber, they grip onto large rocks, muddy soil, and ruts while protecting the tire from punctures and abrasions.
Adding to its aesthetics are the tooth-like edges that are embedded into the tread blocks. They improve handling on snowy surfaces and improves braking and accelerations as well.
Lastly, as mentioned above the tire has noise barrier walls that provide a barrier against the air that flows through the tread, making the car ride much quieter and comfortable.
The AXT2 is an expensive tire depending on the size of the tire. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly tire for your 4runner, this might not be the one for you.
4. TOYO Open Country RT All Season Radial Tire-LT285/75R16 126/123Q
The best load rating and the most premium build of them all…
Pros:
- Improved off-road traction
- Blocks out the noise
- Ensures a smooth ride
- Has tread-wear warranty
- Durable
Cons:
- Unimpressive wet tractions
The Toyo Open Country all-season tire is another tire that would be suitable for your 4runner, offering a combination of excellent on-road and off-road performance. This tire is built for all terrains and has a durable construction and aggressive tread and sidewall styling.
It can tackle dirt, sand, and rock with confidence. The tire comes with an optimized pattern arrangement that reduces noise and makes the car ride comfortable. It also has stone and mud ejectors that force stone and mud from grooves.
The high turn-up and 3-ply polyester casing provide strength for handling and increases tread life as well. The tire has been molded out from a hard compound that protects it from cuts and side impacts and also ensures that the tire will last long considering the beating this one is intended to take.
Although these tires are great, they lack the extra traction that sipes provide. They can be improved in terms of gripping on wet pavement.
5. Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure w/Kevlar -LT275/70R18 125R
The longest lasting and the most consistently durable one…
Pros:
- Has rugged strength
- Good off-road traction
- Good traction in all season
- Comes with warranty
Cons:
- Poor mud traction
The Goodyear All-Terrain Adventure tire is also a great pick for your vehicle as it offers many features. The tire comes with Durawall Technology that helps prevent the sidewall of the tire from cuts.
The tire also has enhanced rugged strength provided by a layer of Dupont Kevlar. All this added strength might lead you to believe that its aggression ight be a bit uncomforting but the opposite is true.
Surprisingly, the Wrangler is still very quiet and comfortable and also saves you the hassle of having to balance them all the time.
In terms of traction, this tire has an open tread pattern due to which the tire has versatile off-road traction in wet and muddy conditions. In addition to this, the tire also has superb traction in snow and rain because of its tread compound and biting edges that help grip the road.
The snow traction was comparable to Kanati Trail Hog which is high praise considering the amount of compromises the latter had to go to to achieve that.
Other than all of this, the tire also has to offer a 60,000-mile tread life warranty. Apart from that, the tire is a true 10-py tire and not some load range E tire with half the number of actual physical plies.
The tire also performs well on light mud-terrain but driving in heavier mud is an area that could be improved as the performance of this tire is not too good in heavy mud conditions.
Buyer’s guide- What to look for in an off-road tire?
If you’re looking to buy off-road tires for your 4Runner or for that matter any vehicle, here are some key features to keep in mind to help you differentiate the best ones from the mediocre ones.
1. Aggressive tread pattern:
Off-road capable all-terrain tires feature extremely aggressive tread patterns with larger tread blocks. Such a pattern allows more traction over softer terrains such as deep mud and sand and also on rigid terrains such as rocky surfaces allowing your 4runner to drive smoothly under all conditions.
2. Load range:
Durable construction of off-road tires and a higher load range go hand in hand. For your off-road tires to perform well and last a while, they must have a higher load range. This especially reflects in tricky off-balance situations where huge amounts of load transfers take place form axle to axle along with the load of massive SUVs/Crossovers and whatever you’re hustling.
3. Softer compound:
Softer compounds allow the tire to contour and mold according to the terrain to a greater extent. This enhances grip, especially over rocks and boulders. As an additional benefit, you get a quieter and lesser bumpy ride as well. Beware though, that softer compounds tend to deteriorate faster and typically have a shorter tread life.
If you are looking for some other type of tires for your 4Runner, here are two articles intended especially for you: Best Snow Tires for Toyota 4runner and Best All Terrain Tires for Toyota 4Runner
