Most versions of the Toyota 4Runner are perfectly capable of going off-road, but it’s not hard to improve your experience with a handful of simple mods.
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Few SUVs have a following like the one that the 4Runner enjoys. Hardly surprising, as since the first model launched in 1984, Toyota’s rugged SUV offered a unique combination of the brand’s legendary reliability with real off-road chops.
Of course, Toyota softened the 4Runner over the years to reach a wider audience. There is no V6 option anymore, either. In its place, Toyota installed a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, available in regular and hybrid form. Still, the brand-new, 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter shows that the SUV is still a serious off-roader, with significant upgrades installed from the factory. The existence of other off-road trims, like the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro, further proves that point.
Fortunately, you can do the same on older 4Runners — or cheaper trims — and get the same, or even better results. These upgrades won’t only improve the off-road performance but give your 4Runner the rugged look it deserves. Crucially, you can make your 4Runner look and run the way you want — not how Toyota engineers imagined. Excited yet? Here are five mods that will take your 4Runner to the next level.Off-Road-Capable Tires and Wheels
The easiest upgrade to improve your 4Runner’s off-road ability would be replacing the existing highway tires with a set of all-terrain tires. These offer much better traction over slippery terrain, thanks to the deeper grooves and larger knobs, which can cling onto dirt, rocks, and mud. All-terrain tires are also tougher, featuring reinforced sidewalls and higher puncture resistance than regular tires. There are some downsides too, of course. Even the best all-terrain tires are louder, less fuel-efficient, and less grippy on paved roads than highway tires, but they offer a decent middle ground overall.
Which brings us to the next upgrade — real, meaty, off-road tires. These would be a great upgrade to 4Runner TRD Pro owners, a trim that already comes with OE all-terrain tires. Off-road tires have an even more aggressive tread pattern with deeper and wider grooves, which translate into much better traction on challenging terrains, like mud and large rocks. These tires are even louder and generally less performative than all-terrain tires on the street, though.
When choosing a set of all-terrain or off-road tires, you might be tempted to go wider for even more traction. In that case, you need to look into new wheels with negative offset or less backspacing to prevent tire rubbing. Don’t go overboard, though, because pushing the wheels too wide will cause strain on the suspension components. While you’re at it, you might also want to look into specific wheels for fast-paced desert driving, rock-crawling, or mudding, depending on your driving needs.Off-Road-Focused Suspension Upgrades
Much like with tires, you can mod the suspension of your 4Runner to achieve different outputs.
