The Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Toyota Tundra are excellent full-size pickups that hard workers and adventure enthusiasts have loved for quite some time. They’re known for their powerful engines, impressive towing abilities, and dynamic trim lineups. In recent years, both manufacturers have paid special attention to the off-road variants of these respective trucks; after all, trucks aren’t just for long days of hard work—they’re great for long days of fun on the trails, too. However, depending on the environments you like to off-road in, one truck might be better for your needs than the other…
If you’re looking at Toyota or Chevy trucks for sale for your off-road plans, it’s important to note some differences between the Silverado 1500 ZR2 and the 2024 Tundra TRD Pro. At first glance, they both clearly boast beefy tires, high ride heights, and towing capacities that are perfect for camping and ATVing. Still, depending on where you live or where you often travel, one is sure to be better for you than the other. Here are some differences to note…
Mud Tires vs All-Terrain Tires
Naturally, when a truck manufacturer creates an off-road model, a lot of thought goes into the tires for that vehicle. You just can’t get by with regular all-season tires when you’re an off-roader; you need some deep and specific tread and channel designs to keep your vehicle rolling smoothly, even when the ground beneath is anything but.
The 2024 Tundra TRD Pro has Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires, whereas the Chevy Silverado ZR2 has mud tires. Off-road enthusiasts can have wildly different opinions about these tires, and rightfully so, as there is no one-tire-fits-all when it comes to off-roading.
All-terrain tires, as their name implies, are ready for a good range of surfaces. They have a tighter tread design than mud tires, which gives a sort of hybrid experience of grip and coasting. If you’re going off-roading in sand dunes or snowy areas, all-terrain tires are likely your best bet.
Mud tires tell you what they’re about right there in the name. They are ready to tackle mud—and you know, if you’ve ever been stuck in mud, it can seriously derail your plans. Even if you have a tow hook, it’s not too useful if nobody is around to tow you out. Mud tires have channels specifically designed to push mud out and allow you to get out of a rut without having to spin your wheels too fast (which can be tough on the rest of your vehicle).
So, if you know you’ll be off-roading in areas prone to mud, the choice is clear—otherwise, maybe go broad with the all-terrain tires.
Only One Boasts a 360-Degree Camera
Off-road environments can be unpredictable. They aren’t like city grids where you have a sense of the flow of traffic and what types of obstacles are around you, like sidewalks or structures. That’s why many off-roaders appreciate a comprehensive camera system that lets them get a good look at what’s happening around their pickup at all times.
The 2024 Tundra TRD Pro and 2024 Silverado 1500 ZR2 both offer some useful camera systems. The Tundra TRD Pro has a multi-terrain monitor with cameras; this shows live footage from the front, rear, and sides of your pickup, which will appear on the navigation screen. However, this is not an all-around camera system. Other trims of the Tundra have a panoramic camera system that offers comprehensive views, but it isn’t available on the TRD Pro.
The Silverado 1500 ZR2 has a standard HD Surround Vision camera setup. It can help you park, guide your trailer in reverse, and get a good sense of what’s happening all around the truck at all times. If you do plan on trailering with your off-road pickup, you’ll find it much easier to stay in command with the ZR2’s camera system. With the TRD Pro, you’ll need to stick to the good old-fashioned system of having someone get out of the truck and spot you—or just sticking your head out the window and craning your neck to see what’s going on.
Smart Transmission Systems
When you’re driving in the city, you don’t experience many major shifts in terrain or the incline of the road you’re traveling on. When you’re off-roading, things can change quickly, and you need the ability to make in-the-moment adjustments to maintain traction and control your speed.
Both the ZR2 and the TRD Pro have ten-speed automatic transmissions with systems that let you limit the top gear the transmission can engage. For each vehicle, these systems have slightly different fancy names, but they essentially do the same thing: you can set the highest gear, and the system will not go above it.
Each vehicle also has systems in place that limit the burden on the transmission when you’re going downhill or uphill, as well as when you’re towing or hauling.
One thing that sticks out about the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is the cruise-grade braking. It’s like a cruise control system that kicks in when you’re going downhill specifically. Because speed can get out of hand fast when you’re going downhill in a heavy vehicle like an off-road pickup (especially one with a trailer in tow), this is an excellent safety feature to have.
The ZR2 Has Better Fuel Economy
Traditionally, drivers tend to believe that vehicles with all-terrain tires have better fuel economy than those with mud tires, but the 2024 Silverado 1500 ZR2 defies that stereotype. It has slightly better fuel efficiency than the 2024 Tundra TRD Pro. If you’re often a long way away from your preferred off-road environments, that’s something to be aware of because you’ll find yourself at the pump in the Tundra a bit more than in the Silverado.
The Best Off-Roading Truck Depends on Your Off-Roading Plans
Both the 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and the 2024 Silverado 1500 ZR2 are impressive off-road models. They are ready to tackle unpredictable terrain, but the exact nature of that terrain will influence which truck you should get.
Per their tire differences alone, if you know you’ll be subject to a lot of mud, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is your best bet, thanks to its Goodyear mud terrain tires. However, if you have more sand and snow in the future, the Tundra’s TRD Pro might be the way to go.
The HD Surround View camera system of the Silverado 1500 is a major benefit of this truck that you don’t get in the Tundra’s dedicated off-road trim. If having a clear understanding of what’s happening around your truck at all times is crucial to you, go for the ZR2. If you spend a lot of time on hilly terrain, you might also prefer the ZR2, thanks to its downhill cruise control system.
Give some thought to what your off-road adventures will look like and where you want to go exploring; this will help you figure out which of these models is right for your needs. There are loyal drivers out there for both brands, and you’ll find forums of off-roaders debating which model is best, but it ultimately depends on where you like to break free from the grid.
