Here in Farmington, Northwestern New Mexico, regular grade gas is 86 Octane. Seems like an altitude thing. I saw that a lot of gas in Utah or Colorado is 85, but if I head out to Arizona along the Colorado River(less than 1000 feet above sea level), or Death Valley(Sea Level or below), then 87 Octane is the norm.
Jeep recommends 87 Octane, and even specifies NOT putting anything higher in. Here, mid grade is 88, and premium is 90.... What a quandary!
Are you using the computer to figure the fuel economy? I have "heard tell" of programming/software upgrades for the Liberty that might improve things. Or maybe disconnect the battery over night and let the computer reset itself?
I can personally verify that the computer can have a lot to do with fuel mileage. Since I had mine re-programmed for the larger tires, my fuel economy has been creeping upward. Prior to re-program, I was getting around 15.5 average combined city/highway. After the re-program, the city mileage crept up to 15.9 average. I took about a 350 mile road trip yesterday, and the average jumped up to 16.5. That means the highway fuel mileage was considerable higher to bring up the average
. Shifting was a lot smoother and there was less of it also.
I understand that your Liberty has stock tires. I am just suggesting that perhaps a "reset" might help by giving the computer a chance to "start over" learning your driving style...which may help, (or may not).