Inspect the tires regularly to determine whether any treadwear indicators have become visible. These indicators provide a clear reference for judging when the tread has worn to the point where replacement is required.
Examine the entire tread surface for irregular wear patterns as well, including noticeably greater wear along one side of the tire. Uneven wear can indicate that the tire is not contacting the road uniformly and should not be ignored.
If the spare tire is not included in the normal rotation pattern, inspect its physical condition separately and check its inflation pressure so it remains ready for use when needed.
- New tread
- Worn tread
- Treadwear indicator
The positions of the treadwear indicators can be identified by a "TWI" or "
"
mark, or a similar marking molded into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace any tire once its treadwear indicators are exposed. Continuing to drive on a tire that has reached this wear limit can reduce the amount of usable tread available for maintaining road contact.
When to replace your vehicle's tires
Tires should be replaced whenever any of the following conditions is present:
- The tread has worn far enough for one or more treadwear indicators to become visible.
- The tire has physical damage, including cuts, splits, or cracks deep enough to expose internal fabric, or bulges that suggest damage beneath the outer surface.
- A tire repeatedly loses air or cannot be repaired properly because of the size, severity, or location of a cut, puncture, or other damage.
If the condition of a tire is uncertain or you cannot determine whether it remains safe for continued use, consult your Toyota dealer for inspection and advice.
Tire life
Any tire more than 6 years old should be examined by a qualified technician, even if it has been used very little or not at all and no deterioration is readily visible. Age-related changes can occur without obvious external signs.
Maximum load of tire
When selecting replacement tires, confirm that the value obtained by dividing the tire's maximum load rating by 1.10 is greater than one-half of the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either axle, using whichever of the front or rear GAWR values is higher.
Refer to the Certification Label for the applicable GAWR information for the Toyota Tacoma.
The tire's maximum load rating is identified by the load limit specified at the maximum cold tire inflation pressure on the tire sidewall.
Tire types
- Summer tires
Summer tires are designed for high-speed performance and are particularly well suited to highway driving in dry conditions. Their traction capability on snow or ice is lower than that of dedicated snow tires, making them unsuitable for snow-covered or icy roads. When winter road conditions are expected, snow tires are recommended. If snow tires are installed, replace all four tires rather than fitting them to only part of the vehicle.
- All season tires
All season tires are engineered to provide improved traction in snow compared with summer tires while remaining suitable for year-round use and many typical winter conditions. Their performance still differs from specialized tires at both extremes: they generally provide less grip than snow tires in deep or loose snow and cannot match the acceleration and handling characteristics of summer tires during highway driving.
- Snow tires
Snow tires are recommended when the Toyota Tacoma will be driven on snow-covered or icy roads. Select tires that match the size, construction, and load capacity of the originally installed tires. Because radial tires are fitted as original equipment, replacement snow tires should also use radial construction.
Before fitting studded tires, check applicable local laws and regulations because their use may be restricted in certain areas. When snow tires are required, install them on all wheels to maintain balanced traction and handling.
If the tread on snow tires wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
Once snow tire tread depth falls below 0.16 in. (4 mm), the tire no longer provides the intended effectiveness as a snow tire and should not be relied upon for winter traction performance.
WARNING
When inspecting or replacing tires
Follow the precautions below whenever tires are inspected, selected, or replaced to avoid creating unsafe vehicle behavior.
Using incompatible or improperly matched tires can damage drivetrain components and significantly alter steering, stability, braking, or handling characteristics. These conditions may contribute to an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
- Do not combine tires from different manufacturers or use different models or tread patterns on the same vehicle.
Also avoid combining tires with substantially different levels of tread wear, as large differences can affect how the vehicle responds on the road.
- Do not install tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota for the vehicle.
- Do not combine tires with different constructions, such as radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply designs.
- Do not mix summer, all season, and snow tires on the vehicle.
- Do not install tires previously used on another vehicle when their service history is uncertain.
If you do not know how a used tire was operated, loaded, maintained, or damaged in the past, do not use it on your vehicle.
- Do not fit tires with a load rating and/or speed symbol that differs from the specification shown on the tire pressure label or stated in the owner's manual.
NOTICE
Driving on rough roads
Use additional caution when driving over loose surfaces, damaged pavement, potholes, or similarly rough road conditions.
Impacts from these surfaces can result in a loss of tire inflation pressure and reduce the tire's ability to cushion the vehicle from road shocks. Rough-road driving can also damage the tire itself and may bend or otherwise harm the wheels or surrounding body components.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the pattern illustrated below. Following the specified rotation sequence helps distribute tread wear more evenly across the Toyota Tacoma tires.
- Front
