I'm going to need new tires soon and it's been brought to my attention that different tires can make a significant impact on MPG. The Goodyear Wrangler AT/S LT275/65R20 that came on my F250 are getting thin and I just took a job driving around 10,000 miles per month typically towing 6,000 to 10,000 lbs. All of the miles will be highway miles during the summer months (never on snow). Does anyone have any recommendations for tires that will give me the best MPG while lasting as long as possible?

 

if you will not be in any mud or snow or rain

you can get a ribbed tire that may SLIGHTLY assist to less rolling resistance, but not will significantly change your mpg more than your driving style...

 

I've always read that a properly inflated hard rubber compound tire with non-aggressive tread can give better mpg's. You might do well with the Michelin LTX M/S2 or General Grabber HTS but I have no experience with these tires. Hopefully others will chime in.

 

Nitto Dura Grapplers are pretty much pure highway treads.

You said 10k a month, but only during the summer? So around 30-40k a year? 19.5s probably won't be worth the cost of a set of Alcoa or Rickson wheels plus 2.5X per tire, but they would definitely last longer. Not sure economy would be any better because the weight of the tires would probably overcome the reduced rolling resistance unless you literally never do anything but pull off for fuel on long highway runs with minimal start/stop or city driving.

 

#1 All radial tires are constructed in the same manner.

#2 All highway use tires(being used on either a VW of a KW,big truck) use the same 72 hardness compound.

#3 All sizing is consistent.

#4 All radial tires perform/track the same.

Differences that dictate price:

#1 Quality control

#3 Materials used

#4 Tooling/matrices or molds.

#5 And obviously marketing and distribution.

Things to consider:

#1 Do not, DO NOT, be swayed by tire mileage guarantees...rather I would suggest disregarding them entirely.

#2 Any tire being manufactured, except anything Chinese, in the Pacific Rim, America or Europe should all be suitable choices.

#3 The most important thing to consider in your decision making is tread design. The single most important issue in buying todays radial tires and the least of all understood by not only the buyer but those who are selling the product. The lack of knowledge of tread design options belonging to those in the industry at most levels is beyond what should be considered acceptable.

Do I have solutions or suggestions? Yes, but Iv'e given them before with little result...good luck in your search because, although there is/was a contributor who is a tire mfg tech on this sight there is no one else who I would consider a authority on tires.

 

Sorry...should have included a direct response to your MPG issue. Again tire miles should not be a consideration when buying, however selecting the proper tread design will have a profound effect on your MPG""""

 

Continentals would be good for the mpg's, but they are absolutely worthless on any wet pavement.

 

Thanks for all the great advice. Does anyone have any experience with Michelin LTX M/S2 tires? They are Low Rolling Resistance tires and seem to have good reviews.

 

I had the M/S2 on my 2011 Suburban (which I dumped for my 2013 F250 PSD); put 20k on the tires and they were like new. I'm very **** about rotation; they served me very well in Alaska during dry/wet/snow. They were P and not LT or E-load rated tires, but I could assume very similar performance in a light truck application.