Effect of tire weight on mileage?

Bill.Barg · **Posted:** Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:00 am

Does anyone have an ideas on the effect of tire weight on mileage ?

It seems like the addition of a lift and larger tires means 10 to 20% decrease in city mileage and maybe as much on highway as well. Is this due to tire weight or aerodynamics effects of the lift?

I imagine that the extra power required to spin up heavy tires in stop and go traffic has an effect, but how much?
I ask because there is quite a variety of tire weights in the 245/75 16 35 t0 55 lb. Does a lighter tire of the same size get us much?

The other effect of the lift and larger tires is a change in the aerodynamics... maybe the larger gap fom road to undercarriage creates more drag.... again... how much?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:25 am

A heavier tire will decrease mileage,that is fact,by how much depends and varies greatly so there is really no set % for how much you will loose.Not only the wieght but being wider creates more friction(to the road) and effects mileage.Bigger and heavier tires also effect your brakes alot.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:02 am

Soemtimes a taller tire( just one or two sizes up) will increase your mpg...better gear ratio net...as long as the width and or weight doesn't counteract the gain. A lift will basically always hurt your mileage because of aerodynamics. Heavier tires will negatively affect braking and corniering as well as acceleration.

Bill.Barg · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:11 am

Thanks for the replies,

So I take it that it is not worth trying to save 5 lb per tire in order to save on fuel.

It is interesting to note that the 245-75-16 E BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM is listed at the "tire rack" as 36 lb , where all the others, including the BFG AT KO at around 47 lb. Must be a typo. (is a typo. 49 lb ea)

Pote · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:00 pm

Bill.Barg wrote:

Thanks for the replies,

So I take it that it is not worth trying to save 5 lb per tire in order to save on fuel.

It is interesting to note that the 245-75-16 E BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM is listed at the "tire rack" as 36 lb , where all the others, including the BFG AT KO at around 47 lb. Must be a typo.

No typos...its real. The KO and its cheaper step sister the Grabber are at the top of the weight class. I just got some new 245/70/16s put on. My stock 235s weighed in at 25 lbs per tire. My new 245s came in at 35 lbs per tire. the Grabbers and KO's at the 245/70 size weigh a whopping 42-45 lbs per tire. Things like deeper treads (3/32" deeper) thicker side walls, and rim protectors adds up quick and the tires are mucho heavy. Like others said, going to a grabber or KO from stock is ALMOST doubling the weight of your tires. Factor in it takes more power/fuel to start and stop and your break pads are doing double time duty, its a very valid point to consider when you are trying to eek out every bit of fuel economy when doing lots of highway driving. I really liked the KO's and Grabbers for look (the latter for the same look and lower price) but going to that heavy a tire would have killed me on mileage. As it is, adding the half inch wider tire and the 10 pounds extra weight per tire, I noticed a marked drop in MPG. It would have been even more going to a tire that weighs almost 20 pounds more per tire, with an aggressive tread that causes a lot more friction on pavement than stockers.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:45 pm

Yes it makes a huge difference for sure. I bought a set of Maobs with the 245 MTRs on them, switched them back and forth every two or three days for a couple of weeks , as soon as the MTRs went on you could really feel it! Altough I like the looks, ride, and ability to go anywhere almost I also know that since my wife lives and works 250 miles away I am going to have a lot of road miles so went with a lighter more street friendly tire for now. WHEN it comes time for a new set hopefully I will be able to change to what I really want :wink:

Effect of tire weight on mileage?

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