Bigger tires make a truck slower, busier on the highway and harder on the transmission, and the fix is a regear: swapping the ring and pinion gears in both axles for a numerically higher ratio. It is one of the most expensive "supporting mods" in a tire build, and the price varies more than almost anything else because most of it is skilled labor. This guide breaks the job into parts, labor and the extras that catch people out, with every price tied to a source. To pick the ratio itself, use our regear chart.
The Total, Front and Rear (3rd Gen Tacoma / 5th Gen 4Runner)
| COST LINE | LOW | TYPICAL | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gear package (front and rear ring and pinion, master install kits) | $1,235 | $1,365–$1,406 | $1,798 |
| Shop labor, both axles | $935 (11 hr at $85) | ~$1,914 (14.5 hr at $132) | ~$3,546 (18 hr at $197) |
| Speedometer calibrator | $0 (skipped) | $245–$250 | $250 |
| Total | ~$2,170 | ~$3,500 | ~$5,600 |
Labor is our math from published figures: Randy's Worldwide puts a ring and pinion install at 5–7 hours per axle, with 1–4 extra hours for independent front axles like the Toyota IFS, and US shop rates average about $132/hr (Tekmetric, 2026), with almost half of shops charging $120–$159 (AAA citing PartsTech). Treat the totals as a planning range, not a quote.
Gear Package Prices (October 2026)
| TRUCK | PACKAGE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd gen Tacoma 2016–2020, automatic, no e-locker (8″ rear, 8″ IFS front) | East Coast Gear Supply 4.88 package | $1,365 |
| 3rd gen Tacoma 2016–2023, 8″ rear only | Revolution 4.88 ring and pinion with master bearing kit | $1,234.99 |
| 3rd gen Tacoma 2016–2022, no e-locker | Nitro front and rear package | $1,798 |
| 3rd gen Tacoma with e-locker or manual (8.75″ rear) | Nitro front and rear package | $1,448.99 (listed out of stock) |
| 5th gen 4Runner 2010–2020 / FJ Cruiser 2010–2014, no e-locker | East Coast Gear Supply 4.88 package | $1,406 ("call for availability") |
| 5th gen 4Runner | Revolution 4.88 gear kit | $1,283 (MSRP, per Trail4Runner) |
| 2nd gen Tundra 2007–2013 and 2015–2020 (10.5″ rear, 9″ front) | East Coast Gear Supply 4.88 package | $1,459 (listed temporarily unavailable) |
Buying pieces separately (East Coast Gear Supply, October 2026): a Nitro 8.75″ rear ring and pinion is $275; a front 8″ IFS ring and pinion is $350 (Nitro) to $381–$395 (Yukon); a front IFS master install kit is $340, or $100 for a mini kit.
The Extras That Change the Price
- E-locker and manual Tacomas use a different rear axle. 3rd gen Tacomas with the factory rear locker, and manual trucks, have the larger 8.75″ rear; non-locker automatics have the 8″. Order the package for your axle. We found no consistent price penalty for the locker: Nitro's 8.75″ package was actually listed below its 8″ package.
- The front carrier may need to change. East Coast Gear Supply lists a $75 front IFS carrier swap as required when going from a factory 3.90 or 4.10 front to 4.56 or 4.88, which covers 3rd gen Tacomas.
- Pre-built front diff. ECGS offers a built front IFS diff for 2016–2019 Tacomas and Tacoma, FJ and 4Runner fronts for $875, about a three-week lead time. Swapping a pre-built unit cuts the shop's setup time.
- Speedometer. A Hypertech in-line calibrator is $244.99 for the 2016–2023 Tacoma and $249.95 for the 2010–2018 4Runner; the 4Runner unit corrects for both tire size and gear ratio and is not sold in California. Some shops reflash the ECU instead.
- Fluids. Both axles get fresh gear oil after a regear; break-in changes are common. See the Tacoma fluid guide for types and capacities.
What Real Owners Paid
These are forum reports, not quotes, and they are several years old:
- A 2nd gen Tacoma owner reported about $900 labor and $1,900 total for 4.56s (TacomaWorld, 2018).
- Another reported about $500 rear and $600 front labor plus $1,200 in gears (TacomaWorld, 2017).
- A 3rd gen owner with a locker said shops quoted "$3k+" (TacomaWorld, 2018).
Labor rates have risen since then, which is why our typical figure is higher.
Is a Regear Worth It?
Regearing is not required for 33″ tires on most V6 Toyotas, but it is the difference between a truck that holds 6th gear on the highway and one that hunts between gears. On 35″ and larger tires, or a truck that tows or carries an overland load, it is usually the single biggest drivability fix. If you are unsure, compare highway RPM for your tire and ratio on the regear chart before you spend the money.
Links below are Amazon affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate, toyotadata earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
| ITEM | USED FOR | BUY |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota LT 75W-85 GL-5 gear oil (08885-02506) | Filling both axles after the regear | Shop on Amazon |
| Hypertech speedometer calibrator | Correcting the speedometer after the regear | Shop on Amazon |
| Fluid pump for quart bottles | Filling diffs through the fill plug | Shop on Amazon |
| 1/2" drive click torque wrench, 10-150 ft-lb | Driveline and suspension bolts when the axles go back together | Shop on Amazon |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to regear a Tacoma?
About $2,200 to $5,600 for front and rear installed, roughly $3,500 typical, in October 2026. The gear package is $1,235–$1,800, labor is 11–18 hours, and a speedometer calibrator is about $245.
How much does it cost to regear a 4Runner?
About the same as a Tacoma: a 5th gen 4Runner 4.88 package is about $1,283–$1,406, plus 11–18 hours of labor and about $250 for a calibrator.
How long does a regear take?
Shops budget about 5–7 hours per axle, plus 1–4 hours for an independent front axle, so 11–18 hours for both. Expect the truck to be at the shop for one to two days.
Do I need to regear for 33-inch tires?
Not always. Many V6 Tacomas and 4Runners run 33s on stock gears, at the cost of acceleration and more gear hunting. A regear is far more common on 35s and up, or on heavily loaded overland and tow rigs.
Does an e-locker make a regear more expensive?
The rear axle is different (8.75″ instead of 8″), so you need the matching kit, but we found no consistent price penalty for e-locker packages.
Related Guides
- Toyota Regear Chart: Tire Size vs Gear Ratio vs RPM
- Cost to Lift a Tacoma or 4Runner
- Cost to Run 33 or 35 Inch Tires on a Tacoma or 4Runner
Sources (prices seen October 20, 2026): East Coast Gear Supply Tacoma package, 4Runner/FJ package, Tundra package, IFS parts and Nitro 8.75″ ring and pinion; Revolution 8″ package at Quadratec; Nitro package at SDHQ; Nitro 8.75″ package at Trail-Gear; Trail4Runner on Revolution 4.88s; Randy's Worldwide labor estimate; American Off-Road gear installs; Tekmetric labor rates 2026; AAA labor rates; Hypertech Tacoma calibrator at ExtremeTerrain; Hypertech 4Runner calibrator.
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