OT. Truck tires for gas mileage
- Thread starter robbor
- Start date
Great info resource:
tiresize.com
if you have two exhaust manifolds but single exhaust, see about dual piping your exhaust. Trucks I did this with in the past improved ~20%.
On modern trucks (fuel injected, variable timing computer, etc), you may need a shop to tweak the truck computer to adjust for the reduced back pressure.
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Use our tire size tools to calculate specs, speed, gear ratios and more. Browse tires by size, vehicle, or brand and compare prices online all in one place.
if you have two exhaust manifolds but single exhaust, see about dual piping your exhaust. Trucks I did this with in the past improved ~20%.
On modern trucks (fuel injected, variable timing computer, etc), you may need a shop to tweak the truck computer to adjust for the reduced back pressure.
Adam in WI
Practically lives here
255/85R16 is what I ran on an F250 for a few years. I don't remember seeing them in a fuel friendly tread pattern though. They were for traction on unplowed snow covered roads. My last truck came with Goodyear Wrangler SRA on it. Fuel mileage with those was good. It went down considerably when the Hankooks went on after those.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Get less plies and more of a street tread to help. Taller tires will only help your gas mileage if you use your truck’s odometer to check mileage
Adam in WI
Practically lives here
I get my best mileage by trusting the computer, if I run the numbers manually it all goes to hell.
old_heli_logger
Gold $$ Contributor
I ran 10-ply Toyo tires on my 4runner forever and they are heavy. I changed to the Falken Rubitrek and my mileage went up 3 mpg
Your looking at 20 revolutions per mile less with the 33" tire. Not much of a gain. What you do gain with the proposed tires you describe is less contact with the road, equating to less traction for breaking, cornering, and acceleration. Same condition exist when people over-inflate tires to supposedly obtain better mileage.
You will gain far more by minor changes in driving habits / style, and ensuring your vehicles maintenance is current than messing with minor tire size differences (of similar tread styles).
YMMV
You will gain far more by minor changes in driving habits / style, and ensuring your vehicles maintenance is current than messing with minor tire size differences (of similar tread styles).
YMMV
I went from Goodyear MT/Rs to Falken (a street tread design - don't remember which model). My FZJ80 went from 11mpg average to 14mpg average (calculated with a slide-rule), but I hate those friggin' Falkens. Gravel gets wedged in the tread, sometimes so bad it throws the balance off.
3Sigma
Silver $$ Contributor
In commercial trucks (class 8), tire rolling resistance is the biggest factor in how much power it takes to move up to around 30 mph, give or take. Moving to a tire with less weight and rolling resistance can improve things, but the magnitude will depend on what you have now and how much weight you carry around.
If you currently use blocky off road tires, moving to something like a Michelin Defender LTX might get you a 7 to 10% improvement. If you already have street oriented tires, the net gain is likely undetectable.
Look for tires that are lighter and have fewest plies that meets your load factor requirements and that are more neutral tread patterns. Skinny isn't necessarily the way here, it is more dependent on individual tire construction (see single wide base tires for commercial trucks).
All that being said, the biggest thing someone can do to improve fuel economy is via driving habits. This is up to a 20% factor in individual driving style and driving cycle. Smooth and steady and not trying to keep up with the stoplight racers.
If you currently use blocky off road tires, moving to something like a Michelin Defender LTX might get you a 7 to 10% improvement. If you already have street oriented tires, the net gain is likely undetectable.
Look for tires that are lighter and have fewest plies that meets your load factor requirements and that are more neutral tread patterns. Skinny isn't necessarily the way here, it is more dependent on individual tire construction (see single wide base tires for commercial trucks).
All that being said, the biggest thing someone can do to improve fuel economy is via driving habits. This is up to a 20% factor in individual driving style and driving cycle. Smooth and steady and not trying to keep up with the stoplight racers.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Great info resource:
TireSize.com - Compare Tire Sizes, Specs, Prices & more
Use our tire size tools to calculate specs, speed, gear ratios and more. Browse tires by size, vehicle, or brand and compare prices online all in one place.
if you have two exhaust manifolds but single exhaust, see about dual piping your exhaust. Trucks I did this with in the past improved ~20%.
On modern trucks (fuel injected, variable timing computer, etc), you may need a shop to tweak the truck computer to adjust for the reduced back pressure.
You're shllting me!
Edd
Gold $$ Contributor
A 235/85 is close to the same diameter but narrower than a 265/75 and they are available in 10 ply.
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
On a couple of 700 mile road trips, I carefully monitored the mile markers all day (kept me awake), then later cross-checked against Google maps (actually very accurate.) I determined that with my OEM size tires, my odometer is 2% generous, i.e. 100 miles indicated is really 98 miles for calculating gas mileage. As tread wears down from new to the 2/32" wear bars the error will increase somewhat.
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Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I put a pedal commander in all my trucks. It helps on the fuel mileage by not letting your foot hurt it
Narrow and tall don’t seem mix anymore like they used to, all the tall tires are wide. That being said if you want narrow and tall 255/85r16 are probably your best bet although there are not many companies that make them in a highway or all terrain. 235/85r16 are just a little taller than the ones you have now (roughly 31.8”) thats only like .2” bigger though. I’m going to go from 265/75r16 to 255/85r16 the next time I need tires. Cooper makes their ST Maxx in 255/85r16 which is kinda a hybrid between all terrain and mud. Also if your going for gas mileage depending on how old your truck is a tune would be really beneficial.
A taller tire might help a little if your miles are predominantly hwy miles. Stop and go and short trips, it'll suffer. Exactly like changing gear ratios.
I don't understand ...
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