I work for the state, as a fleet mechanic. Our state contract recently swapped from Firestone to goodyear, have lotsa people driving state owned trucks that are complaining to me that I have to put Goodyears on, they loved the Destination ATs. Might have to look into those XTs for my truck when the time comes.
I can't see just a choice of tire, causing that much difference in MPGs experienced. I have been running Cooper AT3s for the last 5-6 sets. good bang for the buck, want Michelins but cant afford those no more. On my wife's Durango I went with Pirellis this last time, similar tread to BFG all terrains. Wearing good, but I don't think Im gonna get the life out of them I was hoping for, bought those because I got a great deal on them at the time, they were ordered for someone else that never came back for them.
Currently my '12 (2wd) has 3, bridgestone ATs on it and 1, Kelly Edge HT on it. carfax says that Kelly is only about 5k miles old. thinking of replacing the worst of 3 remaining with a matching Kelly Edge to match the other side on front, and when I finish off the other 2 Bridgestones, go with some kind of AT on back.... I hate having 2 different tires across from each other on the front/ but that is how this truck came to me. The bridgestones still have decent tread, (1/2 or a bit better) but they were made in 2014.....
many people have no idea what tire companies own which other tire companies....
I have had kellys before when I had my XJ Cherokees and my 97 Ram 1500 4wd and they were great....wore straight across, quiet, decent traction.... but my exp with them is that youre lucky to get half the miles out of them they are rated for, before they are "shot" and they wear great for about 1/2 of those miles then all of a sudden, they start wearing down "quick". and in case you didn't know, Kelly is owned by Goodyear. as I believe is Continental. And Goodyear recently bought out Cooper. I can see the beginning of the end, of Cooper being a decent tire....Goodyear is aptly named..... my exp with them over the years is you get about "1 good year" out of them, before they are trash. Definitely overpriced, for the tire life recieved.