Would like a video explaining why many Tacoma drivers opt out of their stock 18” wheels to 17” wheels. After speaking with Method, then Mickey Thompson, then a visit to 4 Wheel Parts, this is the way of things in the aftermarket, even with many 4th Gen Tacomas being born with 18” wheels. And forget about matching up with stock wheel offset on 17” wheels. It’s close, but it’s still different.
It’s also difficult to find wheels in the stock size that are NOT ginormous Load Range E. For the lightweight trailer we tow and not too challenging trails we tackle (say, 6 out of 10), the XL types of Rugged Terrain A/Ts are what we expect will work well for our use case. We have frequent sand and gravel to handle, some beach driving, a few snowy trips per winter, some heavy rain, occasionally muddy areas of forest service roads. 4WP recommends Nitto and Toyo since they balance out better than the Mickeys. My research suggests that Trailhunter owners are more delighted with the Mickeys and Cooper than the Nitto, Toyo, BFG, and Falken. The stock tires are nearly universally hated in rain and snow. A few people actually went onto tire rack to rate their OEM tires and discuss what they were planning to replace with and they hadn’t even done so yet they wanted to warn others away from the Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT stock tires. Wow!!
Despite having rotated my stock tires twice, at 8900 miles they are rounded and chipped, confirmed by the tire shop guy at 4WP. He provided me with price quotes for the tires I have in mind, including replacing the spare tire on my stock wheel. I also have a quote from method wheels in case I want to go down to a 17” and get their fabulous Bead Grip wheels. I will make up my mind in the next couple of weeks.
In the meantime, the question remains why do so many people feel that 17” wheels are the holy Grail for the Offroad loving community?
