If you’re planning on fitting 33-inch tires to your Tundra on a stock suspension, there are a few things you’ll need to know. This article will discuss the various size options when running stock suspension vs a lift kit as well as what kind of performance and MPG you can expect.
33” tires are compatible with a Tundra on a factory stock suspension provided the tire choice is not too wide with an overly aggressive tread pattern. Not all 33” tires are created equal and certain brands vary in width.
In short yes, you absolutely can fit 33’” tires on stock Tundra with no additional suspension modifications. A tire size of 275/70/18 is slightly bigger than 33″ and still fits perfectly on the stock suspension. Remember, the diameter of a tire doesn’t matter that much but more the width and offset that has the potential to cause issues.
Let’s dive deeper into the fitment details!
Tundra 33 Inch Tires No Lift
Log onto any tundra discussion forum and you’ll be overwhelmed by the wealth of information readily available regarding tire sizes, brands, and the various suspension setups It can get a bit confusing, and the valuable information can become scattered. So I’ve summarized as best I can the technical details of what works.
33 “tires on a 20” rim
When fitting 20” rims, always make sure you don’t opt for an aggressive negative offset since the Tundra factory axle is quite wide. Always try and stick to a +18 to +20 offset for the perfect fit.
For example, a 33×12.5 R20 will fit perfectly without any rubbing at all. Wheel clearance is 100% both ways as well as in reverse. The 20” tire is a great fit! There is about a finger space between the tire inner side-wall and the springs and still clears the UCA fine.
33” tires on a 18” rim
Many Tundra owners have reported that the 275/70/18 (33.2”) will fit perfectly fine with little to no additional suspension modifications at all. There is minimal rub at full lock and no scrub when reversing. As mentioned previously, tire brand choice and tread pattern can mean the difference between little rub and no rub at all.
33” tires on a 17” rim
| 255/80R17 = | 33.1x10R17 |
| 285/75R17 = | 33.8×11.2R17 |
| 295/70R17 = | 33.3×11.6R17 |
| 305/70R17 = | 33.8x12R17 |
33” Compatible Tires without a leveling kit
Rubbing can be an issue if you choose the wrong tires. Not all manufacturers use the exact same dimensions or tire molds, so one 33” can be wider than another brand of 33”, especially if the tire has thicker 3-ply sidewalls or the lugs are overly aggressive in the case of some MT or aggressive AT tires.
Tundra owners have even reported rubbing with 33” tires with a leveling kit. So make 100% of the tires first.
Below are a few confirmed tire brands that work fine without a leveling kit.
- Cavalry M/T 33×12.50R 20LT
- BFG AT/KO2s275/70/18 (33.2″)
- Nitto Ridge Grapplers 33×12.5 R20
Tundra with Leveling Kit and 33 Inch Tires
When you install a 2” or 3” leveling kit, you immediately create more wheel clearance. This will allow you to install a slightly taller tire. The aspect ratio of the tire is the 2nd batch of numbers in the sequence. For example, a 285/70/17 means the height of the tire or aspect ratio which is the 2nd batch of numbers. In this case, it’s 70 which is measured in percentage. So the height is 70% of the width of the tire.
So with a leveling kit, you can fit a wider and taller tire such as a 275/60R20 or even a 305/55R/20 which is slightly bigger than a 33”
275/60R20 = 33×10.8R20
285/60R20 = 33.5×11.2R20
295/60R20 = 33.9X11.6R20
305/55R20 = 33.2x12R20
Will 35 Inch Tires Fit a Stock Toyota Tundra?
This largely depends on your rim offset which determines how aggressive your wheel sticks out of the fender. If it’s not too aggressive you might get away with just having to do some light trimming on the inner bumper plastic guard. Fortunately, in this case, a body mount modification is not necessary.
You absolutely can fit 35’s, as mentioned previously, 35’s are possible. If your intention is to run 35’s 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. Also, you might need some minor plastic trimming, depending on how aggressive the tire tread pattern is, however, nothing is too complex, and no advanced tools or skills are required.
Typical MPG on Tundra running 33 Inch Tires
Bigger tires tend to mess with the speedometer accuracy in some cases since the rolling diameter of the wheel is different from factory stock. In some cases, the reading is more accurate when compared to the GPS reading. Obviously the bigger you go the less accurate the reading becomes.
If you go 33” tires, the speedometer will still be accurate however your fuel consumption will decrease. You can expect to lose between 1-2 mpg on average. If you upsize from a 32-inch tire (275 mm) to a 34-inch tire (305) for an 18-inch wheel, then you are increasing the tire diameter by about 6 %. However, the volume increase is about 32 %.
Keep in mind the added weight from extra rubber for the larger tires (typically from C tires to E tires) which adds a few more kg’s to the unsprung weight of the truck. Unsprung weight has a direct impact on fuel consumption. The bigger tires will make the truck feel a bit sluggish, especially on pull-off.
When you install a lift on your truck combined with larger, heavier tires, the cross-section below the truck increases. This creates more air turbulence under the truck, which increases air drag and resistance at higher speed, thereby impacting your fuel consumption negatively.
Typical consumption figures are anything between 12-14.5 mpg.
So, yeah, expect to lose a few MPGs.
Biggest Tire on a Stock Tundra – No Lift
The most commonly asked question amongst truck owners and the 4WD community is, what is the largest/biggest tires 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.
Difference between a 33 and 35” Tire
Below you can see the physical differences between a 33 and 35-inch tire.
| Measurement | 33-Inch | 35-inch | Difference |
| Diameter | 285/75/17 | 305/75/17 | +7% |
| Width | 11.2” | 12” | +7.1” |
| Sidewall | 7.9” | 9” | 13.9” |
| Circumference | 102.7” | 109.9” | +7% |
| Revs/Mile | 617 | 576 | -41 |
I find this tool very useful when determining tire size differences and what effect it has on your truck: https://tiresize.com/comparison/