How much Do Tires Effect MPG ?
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 11
From: on da beach
245 or 265 - technically the 265 is wider and will provide more traction and then more friction, but are you asking about overall diameter?
75
65
55
50 etc, all are the aspect ratio for tires, taller tires usually have a balance between better MPG and efficiency. example,
Taller tires "lower" engine RPM, but are generally harder to get moving - "more fuel" needed. So it is give and take.
Smaller tires raise RPM, and the engine "may use" more fuel at highway speed.
Plus smaller tires are lighter, and this may help gain MPG, that is MAY.
You have to see where your truck is used more, 55 MPH speeds or city driving.
I think stock size tires may offer the balance between MPG and performance.
Driving technique is one way to have the "best" mpg, so is keeping your truck tuned and tires properly inflated.
75
65
55
50 etc, all are the aspect ratio for tires, taller tires usually have a balance between better MPG and efficiency. example,
Taller tires "lower" engine RPM, but are generally harder to get moving - "more fuel" needed. So it is give and take.
Smaller tires raise RPM, and the engine "may use" more fuel at highway speed.
Plus smaller tires are lighter, and this may help gain MPG, that is MAY.
You have to see where your truck is used more, 55 MPH speeds or city driving.
I think stock size tires may offer the balance between MPG and performance.
Driving technique is one way to have the "best" mpg, so is keeping your truck tuned and tires properly inflated.
Tuned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
From: MI
It will affect it a little. The taller and/or heavier the tire is, the more force it takes to get it to spin. The wider it is, the more surface area touches the ground and it makes more friction. And, all tire designs are different. Stiffer, heavy duty tires don't give as much and have less rolling resistance than softer, standard load tires.
If I remember right, a 265/75-15 is about 31" tall. Thats not bad on your truck. I run that on mine and it only took my truck down about 1mpg over using stock 235 tires.
If I remember right, a 265/75-15 is about 31" tall. Thats not bad on your truck. I run that on mine and it only took my truck down about 1mpg over using stock 235 tires.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by RC Dan
It will affect it a little. The taller and/or heavier the tire is, the more force it takes to get it to spin. The wider it is, the more surface area touches the ground and it makes more friction. And, all tire designs are different. Stiffer, heavy duty tires don't give as much and have less rolling resistance than softer, standard load tires.
If I remember right, a 265/75-15 is about 31" tall. Thats not bad on your truck. I run that on mine and it only took my truck down about 1mpg over using stock 235 tires.
If I remember right, a 265/75-15 is about 31" tall. Thats not bad on your truck. I run that on mine and it only took my truck down about 1mpg over using stock 235 tires.
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 11
From: on da beach
Originally Posted by RC Dan
^^^ Geez, I go to the bathroom while the page loads, reply, and someone else beat me to it. Man this site is great.
At least I have something fast!
I have to drive a 4cyl Mazda B2200 to work these days to lower gas costs for me. BTW, it gets great MPG, small tires and all!
reg unleaded = 3.40 per gal.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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Originally Posted by Redcoat
i have wondered if wider tires makes more traction. we learn in physics that friction has nothing to do with contact area.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Milage will depend upon a lot of factors, the weight of the truck, tire size, gear ratio, and engine TQ curve. The vehicle with 3.55 gears and the I6 probably won't suffer or gain much from larger than stock tires because the motor is operating at very light loads at typical hwy speeds. With 2.73 gearing though the motor will be under sgnificantly higher loads just maintaining speed so it will suffer worse milage with bigger tires. For each vehicle and powertrain combo there is a sweet spot where best milage is obtained, it's usually at the highest speed the vehicle can maintain with the highest vacuum signal(least throttle input).
Tuned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
From: MI
Originally Posted by Redcoat
i have wondered if wider tires makes more traction. we learn in physics that friction has nothing to do with contact area.
Proper inflation is key on many tires for traction, longevity, and mileage. I found my 31" tires have best traction and wear at 45-50psi, which is a bit higher than the 35psi the truck calls for. If I had them at 35psi, they felt funny while turning, seemed to drag the truck when coasting, and even locked up easily when braking. So don't think proper inflation is 35psi no matter what tire you have.
Oh yeah, I don't have cable internet. I have a crappy slow dial-up with a 26.4k connection max. Nothing else availible in my area except expensive sattelite.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I'll add that the rules change for the amount of traction you get with a tire in less than ideal conditions. On wet or snow covered roads the pressure on the contact patch is a bigger factor than the size of the contact patch. For this reason narrower tires generally deliver better traction in these conditins than wider tires.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
The 4.9 doesn't mind a taller tire because it makes a lot of power at very low rpms.
I used a calculator at I think Tire Rack web site. It showed my speedometer and odometer are now off by 7%. This was going from stock size to a 31x10.5. Figuring in the 7%, mpg might have gone up about .5. Certainly no significant change.
Frank
I used a calculator at I think Tire Rack web site. It showed my speedometer and odometer are now off by 7%. This was going from stock size to a 31x10.5. Figuring in the 7%, mpg might have gone up about .5. Certainly no significant change.
Frank
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