Also a question for some of you guys. The cooper discover rugged treks I got are 265/70r16 5ply tread and 2ply sidewall. Seems like lots of people recommended 6ply tread and 3ply sidewall. Should I be overly concerned about blow outs. I do have a full-size spare but obviously would like to avoid a blow out.
Are my wheels and tires big enough to off-road!?
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Traveler III
Properly airing down your tires not only increases traction but also helps protect your tires from punctures. Invest in a good air down tool and a compressor and always air down when you hit the dirt and you should be good to go.
Red_Leaf_Overland
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Advocate III
*knock on wood* I have never ad issues with sidewall punctures. Pick lines carefully, air down when needed, and keep an eye out. I have run passenger tires but I keep a full size spare and a tire plug kit handy too.
Explorer I
Hi Drew,
The short answer to your question is yes, absolutely. The size and type of tire you describe is a great all-around choice for a truck that spends a lot of time on the pavement, but is still ready to hit the trails when you can. A good 4x4, quality tires and decent ground clearance is all you really need to get out and start enjoying some great adventures. If you are new to off-roading as you say, then it’s likely your Tacoma is currently capable of anything your driving skills are ready to tackle. As your confidence increases, you will push your limits and eventually get stuck, no matter how much tire you have under you. It’s part of the adventure. Have a plan and the capability to recover your rig and get back after it. Get out there and enjoy yourself.
Explorer I
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This right here. Yes, your tires are big enough. My current rig had 265/70r16 worn at tires when I bought it. I ran those for two years before replacing them. I never had an issue with punctures or traction. Or clearance.
Edit - I responded without reading any comments or the original post. I stand by my statement.
Your tires are plenty big enough. Also, those rugged treks will be just fine. My frontier (which is NOT my dedicated overland rig, but still sees plenty of off road use) had all season tires on it until about four months ago.
My wife wheeled it down this hill on all season tires:
No punctures or traction issues. And no, she didn't break the truck. Only a damaged plastic mudflap (and a very proud husband).
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Explorer I
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Yes, They are big enough. The stock tires were big enough, well....until you bolted on the Amazon steps. Those gotta go. You WILL catch the steps on something and bend them. Or, as to gain confidence you will eventually hit the rail portion on something solid and bend the lower rocker. Function first!
Those are the factory steps. And yes rock sliders are my next mod. I already have a full set of skid plates on the way!
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Traveler III
Airing down your tires also increases your exposure to sidewall damage. Depends on the dirt. I air down when the surface requires additional traction. Some dirt roads are fine at manufacturer's recommended cold pressures. Also, one needs to consider weight of the rig, as one size does not fit all in airing down decisions. Airing down diminishes clearance. There is no set, universal standard.
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Traveler III
Disagree, at off road speeds, airing down decreases the chance of damage by making the tire more flexible. Obviously don't air down on hard pack. It's the speed vs the pressure that causes the excess hest buildup. And yes, the amount to air down will vary based on conditions, weight, etc, which is why I didn't prescribe any particular pressure.
Traveler III
With any tire, the lower the pressure, the wider the sidewall-to-sidewall distance. Yes, the tire is more flexible. More sidewall will be exposed to surface hazards. A sharp side rock doesn't care about flexility.
Traveler III
Yes it absolutely does care about flexibility. Less pressure means the rubber is more likely to flex than puncture. Take a balloon that is only slightly inflated vs one that is fully inflated and see which one is easier to pop.
Literally the only time I've had sidewall damage is when I failed to properly air down. That is obviously not to say that airing down makes your tire invincible, but it is a very well established fact that airing down generally speaking reduces the overall chance of any sort of puncture.
Another benefit of airing down is that it significantly reduces the wear and tear on your vehicle from vibration, because the softer tire acts to cushion the shock on other vehicle components.
Traveler III
Hey there! Sadly, Ganbaru is no more. The timing belt snapped on the highway during our move from BC to Alberta last June, and all the factors invovled, one of the biggest being our need for a pickup as we bought a 5 acre property, added up to it not making sense to roll the dice on trying to fix it.
My new ride is Rumble, a 2006 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab:
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Inventor I
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My boss and I were arguing one day about the difference between 32"-35" tires. I said about an inch and a half top and bottom. I'm good at 32. LMAO
Zim
If you need the 35's, you will do whatever it takes and pay whatever it costs to be able to make them go on.
If you don't need the 35's, then you just don't need them, and spending the time and money is a waste.
My truck has 33" tires and I've used all 33 inches of them, and still smacked the uncercarriage on rocks.
Conversely, I've also outwheeled a heavily-built JL on loose sand in a stock 2000 Ford Explorer on 30's. And laughed. A lot.
It's all about learning physics and knowing how they apply to your vehicle's many mechanisms. An ignorant dummy can get any vehicle stuck, while a competent driver who knows the rig can get past just about any thing that isn't mud or cliffs.
If you don't need the 35's, then you just don't need them, and spending the time and money is a waste.
My truck has 33" tires and I've used all 33 inches of them, and still smacked the uncercarriage on rocks.
Conversely, I've also outwheeled a heavily-built JL on loose sand in a stock 2000 Ford Explorer on 30's. And laughed. A lot.
It's all about learning physics and knowing how they apply to your vehicle's many mechanisms. An ignorant dummy can get any vehicle stuck, while a competent driver who knows the rig can get past just about any thing that isn't mud or cliffs.
I thought this may be a good time to give a nice update on this thread. After 1 full year of wheeling a lot. I was wheeling hard and I can confidently come back to this and say that my wheels were plenty for what I encountered in 3 states. Did I find some moments where bigger would have been nice of course. I got to wheel all throughout Michigan, West Virginia, and Kentucky. I had such an amazing time in the process and it has been amazing thought I’d share some photos! 
Oh yea! Plan is to cut all the steps off now and repaint the rails. If the steps weren’t there then nothing would have hit but I still think it’s time for some proper rock sliders! Probably next spring I’ll be picking up a set.
Traveler III
Great photos! It's awesome to see a new member getting out and adventuring, hopefully with greater confidence and skill thanks to the useful input of many here.
Once you cut those useless steps off, depending on how those rails are bolted onto the truck, they will probably make decent sliders at least for the time being - they look pretty solid.
Cheers!
