POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Toyota Tacoma tires problems
moderate 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Toyota Tacoma we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 22.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 12, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2015 ? 2018 model year vehicles. January 23, 2014 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2013 ? 2014 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 12, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2015 ? 2018 model year vehicles. January 23, 2014 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2013 ? 2014 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat tires, due to reinforced sidewalls, it is possible to drive for up to 100 miles (160 km) at speeds less than 55 mph (90 km/h) with little or no damage to the tire.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Tacoma and X-Runner show two main tire problems in these complaints. The first and most common is transverse cracking and splitting across the tread face on Bridgestone Potenza RE050/RE050A factory tires, appearing as early as 1,500 miles and continuing through 18,000 miles. Owners report cracks running side-to-side across the tread, sometimes described as gashes, affecting multiple tires on the same vehicle. A few owners mention Bridgestone dealers acknowledging the defect and replacing tires without argument, but others report inconsistent responses—some dealers deny knowledge of the problem entirely. One owner reported all four Potenza tires split.
The second issue involves persistent vibration at highway speeds, reported on both Bridgestone and Dunlop tires, attributed by one owner to rim design preventing proper tire balance. One owner described tire wear at just 3,000 miles and vibration severe enough to make interstate travel unsafe above 45 mph, though a factory rep drove the same truck at 85 mph and reported no vibration.
A third, less frequent complaint involves tire sidewall separation or blowout—one Toyo Cross Country tire separated completely at under 20,000 miles. Spare tire issues were also noted, including one hitting the chassis and another eroding or exploding.
Most affected owners are X-Runner variants, which came with 18-inch Potenzas as original equipment.
Same Toyota Tacoma tires reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Bridgestone Potenza RE050/RE050A transverse tread cracking
Factory-equipped Bridgestone Potenza RE050 and RE050A tires (255/45R18) develop transverse cracks and splits running across the tread face, sometimes described as gashes or splits running 90 percent across the tread.
When: 1,500 to 18,000 miles; most commonly reported under 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible transverse cracks across tread; Gash-like splits running left to right; Cracking perpendicular to vehicle turning direction; Splitting affecting multiple tires on same vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Some Bridgestone dealers replaced all four tires without question; others replaced only the single damaged tire after pushback. Some dealers refused replacement, citing no known defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Bridgestone/Firestone inconsistent—some dealers acknowledged problem and replaced tires; others denied knowledge of defect. No formal recall mentioned. One Bridgestone rep stated awareness of the problem in their area.
Persistent high-speed vibration and uneven tire wear
Vehicles exhibit steering wheel vibration and uneven tire wear reported as a design issue with 2005 model rims preventing proper tire balance. Vibration severe enough to make interstate driving unsafe above certain speeds.
When: Present from new; reported at 3,000 miles and continuing
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration at highway speeds; Uneven tire wear across tread; Vibration significant above 45 mph on some vehicles; Vibration felt in steering
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report tire balancing attempts at multiple dealers in different states with no resolution. One factory rep stated nothing could be done about the vibration despite acknowledging its existence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota rep stated the company was having trouble with all new 2005 trucks due to a design change that year. Factory rep drove vehicle and acknowledged vibration at low speeds but said nothing could be done.
Tire sidewall separation and blowout
Tire sidewall failure and complete tire separation at highway speeds, with tread and belts separating from sidewalls.
When: Under 20,000 miles; one incident at 1,500 miles (curb strike)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete tire separation at highway speeds; Sidewall failure leaving only sidewalls on rim; Tread and belts tearing away in one piece
Repairs/costs cited: One Toyo Cross Country tire replaced after separation. One El Dorado Sport Fury tire replaced after blowout at curb strike.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyo recall exists but owner did not receive notice. Toyo contact attempts unsuccessful (hold times over one hour, unreturned messages).
Spare tire mounting and wear issues
Spare tire subject to damage and wear from improper mounting or contact with vehicle chassis.
When: Not specified; noted at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Indentations on spare tire; Spare tire touching chassis; Spare tire erosion; Spare tire explosion
Repairs/costs cited: One owner noted spare tire being replaced; Firestone dealer refused to replace spare during tire replacement campaign.
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had tires trouble with your 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 22 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 2,000 and 18,000 miles, with the median around 3,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,000; a quarter make it past 18,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Toyota/Tacoma.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.