So you are looking for some new Land Cruiser tyres. You want tyres that are fit for your overlanding adventures, and are also comfortable for all the highway you have to travel on while getting to your gravel destinations. Welcome to the world of all terrain tyres.
Stock Tyre Sizes by Model
Before you start shopping, know your baseline. These are the factory tyre sizes for each Land Cruiser model sold in South Africa, plus the most common upgrade size that fits without modifications.
| Model | Stock Size | Common Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| 76 Series | 265/70R17 | 285/70R17 |
| 78 Series (Troopcarrier) | 265/70R16 | 285/70R17 |
| 79 Series Single Cab | 265/70R16 | 285/70R17 |
| 79 Series Double Cab | 265/65R17 | 285/70R17 |
| 80 Series | 275/70R16 | 285/75R16 |
| 100 Series | 275/70R16 | 285/75R16 |
| 200 Series | 285/60R18 | 285/65R18 |
| 300 Series GX-R | 265/65R18 | 275/65R18 |
| 300 Series VX / ZX | 285/60R18 | 285/65R18 |
| 300 Series GR Sport | 275/55R20 | 285/55R20 |
| Prado 150 | 265/65R17 | 285/70R17 |
| Prado 250 | 265/65R18 | 275/65R18 |
Rule of thumb: Going one size up (e.g. 265 → 285 width, or 60 → 65 profile) is safe on a stock vehicle. Beyond that and you risk rubbing on full lock or needing suspension spacers.
All Terrain Tyres
Just to set things straight, that is what you’re looking for — an all terrain tyre. A Land Cruiser really shouldn’t have tar-only tires. So all-terrain tyres are just that: tyres that fit all terrains. You want a set that takes you from highway to beach to sand to mud without an issue, rolling down the highway at 120km/h without sounding like a tank.
Having the right all terrain tyres on your adventure could mean the difference between calling all the shots on your trip, or calling the brother-in-law who you really probably should have invited from the beginning.
What Are the Ideal Land Cruiser Tyres?
Most vehicle owners put long-lasting as one of the top attributes. Also near the top of that list are grip (wet and dry) and noise. So then the ideal tyre is quiet, grips in all conditions, doesn’t cake up in the mud, and has great cornering ability.
The truth is that tyre doesn’t exist yet. The best tyre for your Land Cruiser is the one that has the best compromise between all the attributes you need. Here are the guidelines.
1. Tyre Size
The size of your tyre is critical to the obstacles or terrain you’re going over. Taller tyres give you more ground clearance — that’s really what it comes down to. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking bigger is always better.
If you go too big you’re going to start changing some of the primary attributes to your bakkie’s performance. Going for an overly sized tyre has knock-on effects — you’ll need to change your suspension, potentially your drive line, or drop your transfer case. The closer you can keep the Land Cruiser to stock, the better it’s going to operate day to day. We like to run tyres that are just under 33 inches.
2. Tread Pattern
This is where people sometimes get into a measuring contest. Between all terrain and mud terrain, they’re both good options — it comes down to what terrain you’re covering.
The average overlander does a lot of highway kilometres with their Land Cruiser weighed down quite a bit. It’s simply safer to run with an all terrain tyre. Are you going to be off-road most of the time, or on-road?
3. Tyre Compound
A harder rubber compound lasts longer, but it’s not as sticky. Softer compound tyres grab the road better, but wear faster and need more frequent rotation.
4. Sidewall and Tread Ply
On any decent off-road tyre, a six ply tread or greater is adequate. A two ply sidewall is fine for off-road use even with the pressure down. Three ply sidewall is ideal if you can get it.
5. Know the Numbers on Your Tyre
Let’s use a BF Goodrich All Terrain as an example: LT285/65/R18
LT — Light Truck
285 — Tyre width of 285 millimetres
65 — Aspect ratio of 65%. Your tyre’s sidewall height is 65% of the width.
R — Radial construction
18 — Rim diameter in inches
Knowing this lets you compare tyres properly and understand what you’re upgrading when you go to a larger size. It also helps you understand the tradeoffs — going from a 65 to a 70 profile gives more sidewall height (better off-road) but more road noise.
So What Is the Best Tyre?
This is purely our opinion based on personal experience.
BF Goodrich KO2 All-Terrain
BF Goodrich KM3 Mud Terrain
One of our favourites is the BF Goodrich KO2 All Terrain. Why? The BFG KO2 is a best-selling tyre and somehow BF Goodrich just keeps making it better. It’s made of a cut and chip resistant compound designed for longer tread life. The sidewall uses Tri-Guard construction which helps prevent punctures. And on tar, the KO2 handles rain and wet surfaces as well as anything in its category.
Pros and Cons
In sum: well-designed tread, durable, excellent traction on and off-road, great in the wet. The only downside in our experience is that it doesn’t perform as well in deep mud. If you know you’ll be doing serious mud work, look at the BF Goodrich KM3 Mud Tire — another excellent tyre by BFG.
Conclusion
And so there you have it — the basics for choosing the best Land Cruiser tyres. The right choice comes down to your own criteria: where you drive, how far, how loaded. Use these guidelines as a starting point and make the call that suits your Cruiser.
What’s your favourite tyre? Let us know in the comments.
