1986 Toyota Pickup Tire Size

Q: Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 1986 Toyota Pickup?

Yes — the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

Approved fitments

Tire size	Rim size	PCD (bolt pattern)	Offset	Load index	Speed rating
195/75R14	6.5x14	N/A	20mm	N/A	N/A
215/65R15	7x15	N/A	20mm	N/A	N/A

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

Hankook

Kinergy ST

all-season touring

Best budget

Toyo

Extensa A/S II

Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 620

Compatible alternative sizes for 195/75R14

Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.

Alternative size	%Δ OD	Category	Verdict
`225/65R14`	0.00%	wider	Safe
`205/65R15`	-0.09%	plus 1	Safe
`185/65R16`	-0.19%	plus 2	Safe
`225/70R13`	-0.45%	alternative	Safe
`225/60R15`	0.45%	plus 1	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 195/75R14 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.

Check a different size against this vehicle

Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 195/75R14 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 205/65R15; one rim size up, -0.09% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 185/65R16; two rim sizes up, -0.19% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.

Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.

How to choose tires for the 1986 toyota pickup

The 1986 Toyota Pickup ships from the factory on 195/75R14 tires mounted on 6.5x14 wheels. 2 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.

Tire choice on the Toyota Pickup comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.

For 1986 Toyota Pickup owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.

Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 1986 Toyota Pickup, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.

NHTSA-reported issues for 1986 toyota pickup

7

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Most reported: Tires (General) (5) · Tread / Belt (2)

Reported across: 1986 – 1986 (1 year)

What owners described

Tread or belt separation is the most common description, in 16% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 32 reports covering every model year of the Toyota Pickup that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.

Reported problem	This subject	All tire complaints	Relative
Tread or belt separation	16%	13%	1.2×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	16%	8%	1.9×
Blowout or sudden deflation	13%	20%	0.6×
Bubble or bulge in the tire	9%	6%	1.6×
Cracking or dry rot	9%	9%	1.0×
Sidewall failure	3%	15%	0.2×

Mileage at failure

14 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 33,991 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 5,000 and 226,000 miles.

In owners' own words

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Toyota Pickup. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 TOYOTA LONG BED 1/2 TON, EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK TIRE LINE RADIAL TIRES, SIZE, P215-75-R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO TIRES EXHIBITED BLISTERS AND BUBBLES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint 1020628 · 1986 vehicle

I WAS DRIVING SO ON 9A, JACKSONVILLE, FL, @62-65MPH, ON 7/21/00, 6:30 AM, FAIRLY HEAVY TRAFFIC, DAY WAS CLEAR, NOT RAINING OR WET, IT WAS DARK. SUDDENLY THE LEFT REAR OF MY TRUCK FELT "SOFT". I TURNED ON RI SIGNAL, SLOWED, DID NOT HIT BRAKES, BUT USED THE CLUTCH, MOVED FROM THE CENTER LANE OF THREE AT THE CREST OF THE DAMES POINT BRIDGE. THE TIRE SEPARATED THE TREAD, AND IT WRAPPED AROUND THE LEFT REAR AXLE. ONLY BECAUSE I HAD PROPER TRAINING IN DEFENSIVE DRIVING DID I KNOW HOW TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY TIRE DEALER, PAUL LEWIS, ARLINGTON RD @ UNIVERSITY BLVD HAS REMOVED ALL THE TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER'S TIRES. I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS TO YOU FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES.

NHTSA complaint 236327 · 1994 vehicle

I HAVE NOT HAD A FAILURE YET, BUT THE CRACKS THAT ARE SHOWING UP ON ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES, DOWN AT THE BASE OF TREAD LUGS, IS VERY WORRY SOME. THE CRACKS HAVE BECOME MORE PRONOUCED OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHES. WHEN I TOOK THEM TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THIS MODEL WAS NOT UNDER RECALL, AND THE COULD PRO RATE A NEW SET FOR ME. IF IT HAD BEEN ONE TIRE I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT A FLUKE, ANY MANUFACTURER HAS. ALL FOUR TIRES DEVELOPING THE SAME PROBLEM SOUNDS MORE LIKE A REAL PROBLEM. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. DANIEL CARHART.

NHTSA complaint 260406 · 1999 vehicle

I HAVE 4 FIRESTONE FIREHAWK SS10 TIRES THEY WERE BOUGHT IN JULY OF 1997 THE HAVE APPROX 36.000 MILES ON THEM TEY APPEAR TO HAVE ABOUT HALF OF THERE TREAD LIFE LEFT THE TREAD WEAR IS EVEN ACCROSE THE TIRE YESTERDAY I NOTICED A 6 TO 8 INCH BUBBLE IN THE TREAD ON A REAR TIRE (NOT SIDE WALL) THE TIRE HAD NOT BLOWN YET, I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE THEY JUST ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN AS IT WAS NOT A TIRE IN THE RECALL. I FEAR THE OTHER 3 TIRES WILL DEVELOPE THE SAME PROBLEMS SOON NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE SO FORTUNATE AS TO SEE THE BUBBLE BEFORE THE TIRES BLOW OUT ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint 304791 · 1993 vehicle

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What size tires fit a 1986 Toyota Pickup?

The OEM tire size for the 1986 Toyota Pickup is 195/75R14 mounted on 6.5x14 wheels.. Trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment; confirm against your specific vehicle's driver-door placard before purchase.

Can I run a different tire size on my 1986 Toyota Pickup?

Plus-sizing (larger rim, lower aspect) is possible within ±3% of the OEM overall diameter per the ETRTO safe-fit standard. The Compatible alternative sizes table on this page lists every safe option for the OEM size. Always confirm with the manufacturer or a qualified tire shop before deviating from the placard.

Where can I buy tires for my 1986 Toyota Pickup?

Online tire retailers in our affiliate network carry every size documented for this vehicle. Use the Shop online buttons above to compare prices across them; variance of $20–$40 per tire is common between merchants. The <a href="/tools/tire-install-cost-calculator/">install cost calculator</a> estimates the out-the-door including mount, balance, TPMS, and disposal by state.

What is the recommended tire pressure for the 1986 Toyota Pickup?

The cold-inflation pressure is printed on the driver-door placard of your specific vehicle and varies by trim, tire size, and loaded vs unloaded condition. Typical OEM front and rear pressures fall between 30 and 36 psi for passenger trims and 32–40 psi for SUV/truck variants, but the placard is the authoritative source.

Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 1986 Toyota Pickup?

Yes; the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

How often should I rotate the tires on my 1986 Toyota Pickup?

Every 5,000–7,500 miles is the typical OEM recommendation for passenger vehicles. AWD vehicles and high-torque trucks benefit from the shorter interval. Documented rotation history is also a tire-warranty prerequisite; most manufacturer treadwear claims require rotation receipts at the warranty inspection.

For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.

Sources for this page

Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Toyota Pickup is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 1986 Toyota Pickup.
ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.