Biggest Tire on a Stock Tundra – No Lift (FITMENT GUIDE)


The most commonly asked question amongst truck owners and the 4WD community is, what is the largest/biggest tire size you can fit on your truck? Remember when fitting aftermarket rims with bigger tires your main concern should be the wheel offset and the tire width since diameter doesn’t affect the fitment. So what is the max tire size you can fit on a 2014-19 Toyota Tundra?

The maximum size on the Tundra is a 295/70/R18 or 295/60 in a 20-inch with a +18 to +20 wheel offset, on a 9-inch wide wheel.

Now that we know the max tire size on a stock Tundra, let’s dive deeper into the actual fitment and later look at the biggest tire size you can fit with a 3” and 6” lift kit!

Max Tire Size on a Stock 2014-19 Tundra – No Lift

The Tundra has a very positive wheel offset from the factory so you won’t be able to fit a 0 offset or negative 12 offsets. This means the wheel hubs are pushed further outwards, which limits you somewhat to a more positive offset rim. Stick to +18-20 and you’ll be good. There might be some minor plastic trimmings, depending on how aggressive the tire tread pattern is, however, nothing is too complex, and no advanced tools or skills are required.  

You need to remove front mud flaps located in the front of the tire which is mounted on the front bumper and held securely by 2x 10mm bolts.

Max Tire Size with a 3” Lift Kit

The 3-inch lift kit is significantly more popular than the 4” lift kits on the Tundra’s. With a 3” lift kit you’re getting up to 1” more clearance and lift than a leveling kit and the rear is also lifted slightly. The maximum size you can run with a 3” lift kit on a Tundra on a 9 wide rim x20” is a 305×55. The positive 18 and positive 20 offset works really well with this setup.

The 305mm wide x 55” tire measures 33.2 in metric values.

Max Tire Size with a 6” Lift Kit

Once you go as big as 6” leveling kits, you’re basically losing some of the Tundra UTE functionality and it’s becoming more of a show pony. When you go this high you are able to fit in excess of 12” wide rims with 35” tires. A popular choice is negative -44 offset 12” wheel on the ’20s (20×12 -44).  This wheel configuration offers a very wide, show-truck stance.

If you want to squeeze in 37” tires, you’ll have to fit a front aftermarket bumper for better clearance and no scrubbing at full lock.

Can you fit 33s on a Stock Tundra?

In short yes, you absolutely can fit 33’” tires on stock Tundra with no additional suspension modifications. Tire size of 275/70/18 is slightly bigger than 33″ and fits perfectly stock.

Can You Fit 35s on a Stock Tundra?

YES! You absolutely can fit 35s, as mentioned previously, 35’s are possible. If your intention is to run 35s on the factory stock rims, then you can fit a 285/75R18 which equates to a (35″) tire on the OE 18×8″ wheels. This is only possible with a 2” front leveling kit. Again, you might need minor plastic trimming with a more aggressive tire tread pattern.

Difference Between a 33″ and 35” Tire

Below you can see the physical differences between a 33 and 35-inch tire.

Measurement33-Inch35-inchDifference
Diameter285/75/17305/75/17+7%
Width11.2”12”+7.1”
Sidewall7.9”9”13.9”
Circumference102.7”109.9”+7%
Revs/Mile617576-41

I find this tool very useful when determining tire size differences and what effect it has on your truck: https://tiresize.com/comparison/

Fitting 33s on 3rd Gen Tacoma – What You Need To Know

Fitting 35” tires does not require a crazy amount of modifications compared to fitting 33-inch. You will require a lift, negative offset rims and you’ll need to do some modifications, which we’ll get into more detail later.

On the rear, it’s a straightforward fit with no clearance issues. You can get full tuck on the rear without any hassles. You can trim the wheel arch for improved clearance, however, you will lose your wheel arch liners.

Also, you need to remember the front wheels don’t only move left and right when turning, but there’s also some forward and backward movement. This is why you get scrubbing at full lock when turning and why it’s necessary to do CMCs and trimming of the pinch weld.

Pinch Weld Mod

So one of the first things you’ll need to do is the pinch weld modification to get the wheels to clear properly.

This is done by removing all the plastic trim and exposing the thin metal plate that protrudes. Because the metal is arched, many Tacoma owners cut thin slits and bend the pinch weld inwards towards the wheel arch. You can bend it either way and then hammer the weld flat, however, if you bend it outwards you can use that thin metal strip as a flange to secure the plastic fender liner back onto.

Watch this video for a better idea

CMC (Cab Mount Chop)

So fitting 35s on a Tacoma with a 2.5”-3” lift kit requires some minor modifications to the cab mount or body mount, to allow it to clear fully on complete wheel lock. This will be your main point of contention, and you will need to assess and trim as much as necessary to ensure the tire doesn’t scrub against the body mount and get damaged. Obviously, the wider and taller the tires the more contact it will make with the cab mount when at full lock.

You will need to get dirty with a grinder and cut away some meat that is protruding from the actual cab mount. A blank-off plate needs to be welded back in to prevent dirt and debris from entering. You also need to make sure you grind off any sharp excess welds and seal the weld up nicely with paint to ensure it doesn’t start rusting/corroding.

It’s not an advanced or complex job, however, if you’re not experienced with a grinder and welding machine, then it would probably be safer to pay an engineering shop to do it for you. It is highly recommended to use a Toyota-specific custom shop rather than a general off-road place to do the job.

Resources

https://www.customwheeloffset.com/wheel-offset-gallery

Tundra leveling kit

3” Rough Country Leveling kit

6” Rough Country Leveling kit

Conclusion

Going bigger tires might look awesome, however, you want to limit how big you go, especially if you still want to maintain the full functionality of your truck. Bigger isn’t always better since the bigger you go, the more modifications you’ll need to make as well as recalibrating your speedometer reading.

Jade C.

4-Wheel drives and off-road driving techniques has been my passion for over 20 years. Here we strive to provide the most accurate, up-to-date, information about the functionality, common faults and latest technology built into most 4 Wheel Drives.

Recent Posts