The Toyota Tacoma continues to be a best-seller for a variety of reasons. It is one of the most dependable pickup vehicles on the market today. Despite this, the Tacoma is considered to be a gas-guzzler. Still, there are ways to minimize the damage.
Purchasing fuel efficient tires is one of the easiest and the most consistent things you can do to get the most out of your gas bucks.
Thus, we have compiled a list of recommendations giving special attention to gas mileage as well as keeping in view all the necessary qualities of a good tire.
The Top 5 Best Fuel Efficient Tires for your Toyota Tacoma:
Let’s have a quick look at the tires, shall we?
Best tire options for stock size rims (18 inches):
- GOODYEAR Wrangler Fortitude HT Street Radial Tire-265/60R18 110T (Editor’s choice)
- Yokohama GEOLANDAR H/T G056 All-Season Radial Tire – 265/65R18 112T
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W All_ Season Radial Tire 265/65R18 114T
Best options for after-market or TRD rims:
- Kumho Crugen Premium KL33 All-Season Tire – 235/55R19 101H (Editor’s choice)
- Falken Ziex ZE950 All-Season Radial Tire – 215/55R17 94W
- Nexen Roadian GTX All-Season Tire – 275/55R20 113H
1. GOODYEAR Wrangler Fortitude HT Street Radial Tire-265/60R18 110T (Editor’s choice)
Truly geared towards providing you the best highway experience…
Pros:
- Highway terrain tire with exceptional versatility
- Low noise levels
- Extremely comfortable ride
Cons:
- Limited snow and off road traction
The Fortitude HT is an all-terrain, all-season tire that is especially geared towards on-road use; despite its off-road appearance and name. The tread is designed to be quiet on the highway and durable.
You will be surprised by the high level of ride comfort, a usually decent life, and an outstanding dry traction and handling. Deep sipes and broad circumferential combined with innovative design components help reduce road noise and increase ride comfort.
Part of the reason these are so fuel efficient and quiet is that these are the stock wheels on the newer Tacoma models. Thus, these work well in conjunction with the powertrain and drivetrain of the truck.
Coming to the negatives, the tread is slightly harder than a conventional all-season highway tire and you will quickly learn that it has a very restricted range of off-road capability and snow traction. This does increase tread life, however.
2. Yokohama GEOLANDAR H/T G056 All-Season Radial Tire – 265/65R18 112T
Highly fuel-efficient without compromising traction…
Pros:
- Outstanding traction with special emphasis on wet grip
- Very comfortable ride
- Quiet.
- Durable tread life
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Traction issues on ice
Staying true to its claim, this highway-terrain tire rules the urban roads. From fuel efficiency to ride comfort, it has got everything covered for your daily commute.
Yokohama tires are built to deliver superior performance, increased safety, and increased range but some models like the G015 were prone to hydroplaning. Yokohama has paid special attention to that and has completely solved the issue with this model.
A praiseworthy plus point of this tire is its tread life. Yokohama has included the so-called adapted shoulder blocks, which form a continuous outer rib. This results in decreased tread wear and reduced road noise. Additionally, an optimized contact patch results in improved tread wear and increased gas mileage.
Completing the package, the tread features triple 3D sipes, multi-angled grooves, and zigzag circumferential grooves that enhance grip on wet roads and aid in traction on snow and ice. All these qualities help the G056 to steal the top spot in on our recommendations list.
3. Falken Wildpeak AT3W All-Season Radial Tire 265/65R18 114T
The best off-road capability among the fuel-efficient options…
Pros:
- Excellent wet/dry traction on the road
- Good winter performance
- Good off-road grip
- Amazing tread life
Cons:
- Not fuel economical
While there are other fantastic all-terrain tires on the market, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a beast in itself. This tire offers great hybrid performance at a price point comparable to other tires in its class.
This model is fantastic on tough terrains, great on pavement, very secure and stable, and offering great traction in dry, rainy and even snowy weather, Falken’s engineers seem to have scored big; this tyre ticks all the requirements.
Additionally, it is quite inexpensive. Whereas most modern tires increase the car’s fuel consumption by boosting grip and rolling resistance, this Falken tire model’s improved grip technology does not.
The rolling resistance of the tire increases the friction between it and the surface of the road. This generates considerable heat in return and degrades the tire’s performance on a molecular level. Falken’s engineers addressed this issue by developing a tread series that reduces noise levels and reduces rolling resistance.
4. Kumho Crugen Premium KL33 All-Season Tire – 235/55R19 101H (Editor’s choice)
Delivers a truly premium driving experience, true to its name…
Pros:
- Extremely adaptable in both wet and dry situations
- Highway driving at an ultra-low decibel level/minimal road noise
- Warranty of 60,000 miles
- Sleek and sporty appearance
- Exceptional value (affordable)
Cons:
- Does not perform well in light snow
- Compromised traction on wet surfaces.
At a very low price point, these tires are basically a bargain. The Crugen KL33 features an all-season tread compound that excels on dry and wet roads alike. It is also built with high-quality components that guarantee its lifetime.
The tread pattern is symmetrical with a variable pitch, which helps minimize road noise for a quiet and comfortable driving experience. Kumho designed this tire to be confident in everyday settings, which is accomplished using an innovative all-season compound.
The final section may be particularly intriguing for owners of lighter crossovers since it implies that you should notice an immediate improvement in fuel efficiency after fitting a set of these tires. Meanwhile, the 6-year/60,000-mile treadwear warranty demonstrates their commitment to long tread life.
The tire performs exceptionally well in dry conditions in terms of traction, handling, and general response. Additionally, the ride is generally comfortable, and noise is not a significant concern on the highway.
5. Falken Ziex ZE950 All-Season Radial Tire – 215/55R17 94W
Revolutionary tread compound grants it a quicker steering response…
Pros:
- Excellent traction in both dry and rainy conditions
- Extremely robust construction
- UTQG of 600AA.
- Extremely consistent tread wear
- Affordable option
Cons:
- Lacks good snow traction
- Bit noisy
The Falken Ziex ZE950 A/S is the brand’s newest tire. These tires are meant to perform all-season and are designed to increase control and comfort. The Ziex ZE950 tires work well in a range of conditions and deliver superior traction and grip regardless of the weather. Overall, the tires perform admirably, and the steering response is really quick.
When discussing this tire, the first thing that springs to mind is the tread. Falken prepared the tracks by mixing their silica tread compound with rubber. This is referred to as Dynamic Range Technology.
As a result, when driving on a dry road with a high temperature, rubber heats up and strengthens the bonding, allowing the tire to function smoothly. On the other hand, when the road is wet, slick, or icy, the rubber becomes flexible due to the low temperature, increasing grip.
This tire features a unique feature known as 3D Canyon Sipe Technology. The zigzag grooves on the side tread add strength to the tread for improved running when the vehicle is loaded or carrying large items, the grooves interlock and provide a more stable handling surface.
Oh and did we mention that these go for just above a hundred bucks each, because they do!
6. Nexen Roadian GTX All-Season Tire – 275/55R20 113H
Comes with a 70,000 miles warranty while still optimizing fuel consumption…
Pros:
- On dry roads, safe handling, and braking
- On the highway, it’s quiet and comfy.
- Excellent resistance to hydroplaning
- Outstanding treadwear and a 70,000-mile guarantee
Cons:
- Insufficient wet braking performance
- Traction in snow could be improved
Numerous long-distance drivers need a versatile and dependable tire that provides an all-season grip, excellent mileage, a comfortable ride, and long tread life. The new Roadian GTX touring tire satisfies these requirements and regularly exceeds expectations.
The Roadian GTX is a revolutionary multi-purpose driver tire that values luxury driving, extended service life, and versatility. The tire provides balanced ride comfort and exceptional handling performance while delivering increased fuel efficiency.
Nexen tires have a low rolling resistance due to their polyester outer shell. This makes them an extremely cost-effective solution in the long run, as reduced friction results in reduced fuel consumption.
Apart from imparting efficiency gains, the casing of the tires does an excellent job of dampening noise and vibration. Once you’ve experienced the degree of comfort provided by Nexen tires, you’ll never want to go back.
How to Look for the Most Fuel Efficient Tires for your Toyota Tacoma?
If you keep these few things in your mind while out there shopping for your next pair of tires, I promise you’ll do great:
1. Tread:
The more aggressive the tread, the lower the fuel economy. Tread assists your tires in grabbing the tarmac during inclement weather, and when you need to brake unexpectedly.
The normal urban motorist, however, only requires a certain amount of grip in most conditions. If you are willing to give up on some of the performance and off-road potential, you will be surprised by how much you can save on fuel.
2. Tire Dimensions:
Smaller tires on a smaller wheel make it easier to accelerate from the numerous stops encountered while driving in the city. This is because the overall unit is lighter.
Also, smaller wheels have lower rolling resistance which helps in diminishing the energy requirements of the tire just to keep rolling.
3. Low Rolling Resistance:
If you’re looking for tires with the lowest average rolling resistance and the most energy economy, go for those labeled “A” – the best of the seven classes in rolling resistance. Beware, however, that low rolling resistance tires tend to compromise on the traction side of things.
The quoted information enables comparisons of several models, which is quite beneficial when selecting a new set. Bear in mind, however, that when a tire’s size is changed, its attributes may vary as well.
Our Two Cents
Coming to the fuel efficient side of things, driving style is perhaps the most important thing that has a huge impact on the mileage; slowing down, being gentle with the gas and brake pedals, and appropriately utilizing cruise control are all tactics for improving fuel efficiency. Similarly, a well-maintained car with properly inflated tires and perfect alignment can extend the miles you get out of a tank of gas.
For other great options you can also check out our other article: Best Truck Tires For Fuel Economy
