Instant Better MPG!!!!!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 658
Instant Better MPG!!!!!
When I bought my truck almost 3 months ago I was getting 22mpg hwy and about 18 in the city, according to the lie O meter. Which I understand that the lie o meter to be pretty accurate. Well right after getting my truck I wanted more aggressive tread so I went to a Nitto 295/70/18 and my MPG took a nose dive. I couldn't feather the pedal on the highway to get 17.5. It was a struggle. So I just learned to live with it. Thinking it was the sacrafice I was to take for a little bigger tires.
After a discussion with a current member here about a month ago, I decided when I rotate my tires to have the pressure raised on my tires. All I can is what HUGE difference that makes. I go them rotated yesterday and raised the fronts to 75 and the rears to 80. I had no problem reaching 22 mpg on the highway. I drove 140 miles today and it sure helps. I did 70% highway and 30 city and when I pulled in the driveway I was at 18.3 mpg. These are load "e" tires if anyone wants to know. Ride was a little rougher but worth it, IMO.
Makes me think that my current tires, not factory ones, were underinflated to begin with.
Opinions, without tearing me up too bad.
I'm guessing I should lower the pressure when I tow my 7500lb Airstream.
Shane
After a discussion with a current member here about a month ago, I decided when I rotate my tires to have the pressure raised on my tires. All I can is what HUGE difference that makes. I go them rotated yesterday and raised the fronts to 75 and the rears to 80. I had no problem reaching 22 mpg on the highway. I drove 140 miles today and it sure helps. I did 70% highway and 30 city and when I pulled in the driveway I was at 18.3 mpg. These are load "e" tires if anyone wants to know. Ride was a little rougher but worth it, IMO.
Makes me think that my current tires, not factory ones, were underinflated to begin with.
Opinions, without tearing me up too bad.
I'm guessing I should lower the pressure when I tow my 7500lb Airstream.
Shane
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
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From: Maryland
It is especially noticeable on aggressive tread patterns. Not so important on a non existent tread tire like the Continentals.
My question is why would lower your pressure for towing? That's the time that I look for any fuel economy advantage I can get especially with more load on the rear tires.
My question is why would lower your pressure for towing? That's the time that I look for any fuel economy advantage I can get especially with more load on the rear tires.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 658
It is especially noticeable on aggressive tread patterns. Not so important on a non existent tread tire like the Continentals.
My question is why would lower your pressure for towing? That's the time that I look for any fuel economy advantage I can get especially with more load on the rear tires.
My question is why would lower your pressure for towing? That's the time that I look for any fuel economy advantage I can get especially with more load on the rear tires.
I was only guessing.
I looked at the paperwork when I quoted those psi numbers. Me and the guy at discount tire talked about raising it and he said he would take care of it. I'm gonna re check it tomorrow. Isn't 80 a little high?
Thanks
Shane
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
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From: Maryland
The main thing to be careful of with a cold temp of 80 is pressure increase from temperature rise in hot weather and heavy towing. I used to run 80 while towing for long distances but rarely more than 70-75 with an empty truck. You will have to experiment with your exact setup, but tire pressure will affect tire wear. You just have to find the sweet spot for your tire/wheel combo.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
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Load range "E" tires are designed to run at full pressure (80psi) all the time. I always have my rear tires at 80 (2,000 lbs of tools) and my fronts between 70 and 75 and have never had a problem with them. Under inflation (with a load) is dangerous.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
The more pressure on the tires, the more it will bulge in the center. I've heard of some people seriously overinflating tires to get better mileage. You will get better mileage for sure, at the sacrifice of wearing the center of your tread faster than the outer tread. I'm not saying you over inflated your tires or anything, just describing the principle of it. If you take the other extreme, on under inflated tires, there will be a much larger contact pattern on the road. I think back to my serious rock crawling days in Moab Utah. We would run tire psi at about 10 Which would have the effect of clawing over the rocks and grabbing onto everything. When we got back to the highway and had to drive into town on those tires it was like driving uphill the whole way.
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The more pressure on the tires, the more it will bulge in the center. I've heard of some people seriously overinflating tires to get better mileage. You will get better mileage for sure, at the sacrifice of wearing the center of your tread faster than the outer tread. I'm not saying you over inflated your tires or anything, just describing the principle of it. If you take the other extreme, on under inflated tires, there will be a much larger contact pattern on the road. I think back to my serious rock crawling days in Moab Utah. We would run tire psi at about 10 Which would have the effect of clawing over the rocks and grabbing onto everything. When we got back to the highway and had to drive into town on those tires it was like driving uphill the whole way.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
No, we weren't the hard-core crowd and didn't have dedicated machines to run the trails. That was an entirely different animal altogether. That was back in my (gasp) Chev and Toyota days.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
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From: Greenwood, SC
For what it's worth, I'll add another vote for running high tire pressures. If you have load range "E" tires, I always run above 75 psi all the way around the truck. The kicker is, I always tow trailers, so my ride is softer and the contact patch I experience is "normal" since I always have an extra few hundred pounds on the axles.
Typically, I roll at a GVW of 14K-17K. Approx. an average of 1000 miles/week like this. But my truck has exceeded 5K miles in each of the 4 months that it has been in service. (currently at 22xxx on the odo) My tires (factory Michelin 20's) are holding up well, no premature wear in the centers. Nice flat wear in the rear, rounded corners on the fronts but I rotate often so they even out pretty quick.
My MPG's which are brutally effected by wind (driving W vs. driving E) generally stay between 10 and 13, depending. I can't seem to do any better but the economy is a solid 2-4 mpg better than the 6.4 engine I had.
Typically, I roll at a GVW of 14K-17K. Approx. an average of 1000 miles/week like this. But my truck has exceeded 5K miles in each of the 4 months that it has been in service. (currently at 22xxx on the odo) My tires (factory Michelin 20's) are holding up well, no premature wear in the centers. Nice flat wear in the rear, rounded corners on the fronts but I rotate often so they even out pretty quick.
My MPG's which are brutally effected by wind (driving W vs. driving E) generally stay between 10 and 13, depending. I can't seem to do any better but the economy is a solid 2-4 mpg better than the 6.4 engine I had.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
FYI - Not all E load rated tires are 80 psi. I found out after putting 80 psi in mine and then noticed they were very rounded in the middle. My Toyo MT's are E load rated but they max at 65 psi so I gladly aired them down to proper pressures. 65 psi when towing, 60 when not. I know that by doing that, the tire has slightly more rolling resistance and therefore poorer mileage vs. max. My kidneys thank me for it though...
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
FYI - Not all E load rated tires are 80 psi. I found out after putting 80 psi in mine and then noticed they were very rounded in the middle. My Toyo MT's are E load rated but they max at 65 psi so I gladly aired them down to proper pressures. 65 psi when towing, 60 when not. I know that by doing that, the tire has slightly more rolling resistance and therefore poorer mileage vs. max. My kidneys thank me for it though...
