Tires and MPG

[Crush14]

I am stuck between wanting a better tire/wheel look (and off-road performance), but not wanting to sacrifice too much fuel economy. I currently have the chrome clad steel wheels on the stock firestone 275/70 tires. I am looking at 285/75/17 AT tires and some fuel/rockstar/equivalent type wheels. I know the slightly larger tires (less than an inch) will hurt MPG, but is any of that regained by the significant weight savings compared to the stock setup? Any advice is appreciated!

 

[olyelr]

What makes you think your bigger tires and aftermarket wheels are gonna weigh less than the stock setup?

 

[RainDesert]

Any weight savings in an aftermarket alloy wheel will likely be nullified by the heavier tire. If you stick to a lighter weight AT you likely won't suffer any loss with a new setup.

 

[mtnrider]

You will not save any weight. Bigger tires will hurt your mpg as well as a more aggressive tread pattern. You are going to lose a little mpg no if ands or buts about it.



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[Crush14]

What makes you think your bigger tires and aftermarket wheels are gonna weigh less than the stock setup?

I compared the weights of my stock wheels/tires to the other wheels/tires I’m looking at. The tires are only slightly larger and the stock steel wheels are very heavy.

 

[Crush14]

Any weight savings in an aftermarket alloy wheel will likely be nullified by the heavier tire. If you stick to a lighter weight AT you likely won't suffer any loss with a new setup.

Thanks for the reply. That’s what I was thinking. The AT I’m looking at only weighs about 3 lbs more per tire, so I figured that was insignificant.

 

[Firetruck41]

Going steel to aluminum may save some weight. I am surprised the weight difference of the tires is only 3lb per. The more aggressive tires have more rolling resistance, so I would expect you will still see a mpg decrease.
I went from oem alloy 20s with oem Firestone Transforce AT, to OEM alloy 17s, and 285 75 17 Yokohama AT and got 1-2 mpg less. Having better tires and grip makes it worth it, for me.

 

[RainDesert]

Thanks for the reply. That’s what I was thinking. The AT I’m looking at only weighs about 3 lbs more per tire, so I figured that was insignificant.

Which tire are you leaning towards?

 

[Crush14]

Which tire are you leaning towards?

Mastercraft Courser AXT2

 

[Nickx86]

Even if you go w the same weight tire as factory, if you put a more AT design tread on the tire, you will also lose some MPG. I notice with a HD truck, they will loose % wise . They will loss less mpg than if you were to do the same to a 1/2 ton truck.

however, I believe the offset traction with a better design AT will far outweigh the slight MPG loss.

 

[wyo2track]

I just put a new set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs on my 14. Had some Hankook ATM 10 that came off. Stock wheels. Immediately noticed a 1 to 1.5 mpg decrease. But...the traction gain is so significant! So much better in the mud and snow. They are not as smooth as the Hankooks where new and I hope I get the same amount of mileage out of them, but man the grip they've got in the slick stuff.

 

[snowmiser68]

I am stuck between wanting a better tire/wheel look (and off-road performance), but not wanting to sacrifice too much fuel economy. I currently have the chrome clad steel wheels on the stock firestone 275/70 tires. I am looking at 285/75/17 AT tires and some fuel/rockstar/equivalent type wheels. I know the slightly larger tires (less than an inch) will hurt MPG, but is any of that regained by the significant weight savings compared to the stock setup? Any advice is appreciated.

You bought a truck that weighs almost 3 1/2 tons with a 410 horsepower engine. My advice is do what makes you happy. Gas mileage is relative on these beasts but I love mine.

 

[mtnrider]

I just put a new set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs on my 14. Had some Hankook ATM 10 that came off. Stock wheels. Immediately noticed a 1 to 1.5 mpg decrease. But...the traction gain is so significant! So much better in the mud and snow. They are not as smooth as the Hankooks where new and I hope I get the same amount of mileage out of them, but man the grip they've got in the slick stuff.

Those Duratracs are great for grip but I have found that on a HD truck that they wear Really quick and will become unstable (squishy) feeling before too long.

Love them on my wife's Jeep but will never put them on a heavy truck again.

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