Lets talk tires... and weight

[daczone]

I know from experience.... the weight of a wheel/tire combo can have a huge effect on MPG. I've done this for my previous vehicle and current daily driver with excellent results (shopping by weight). The Stock Ford 18" tires for my truck come in at 35 lbs for the tire and 31 lbs for the rim. I'd LIKE to have a better, not necessarily bigger tire on my truck. I like the Nitto's but they are 41.5 lbs for the same size. Some tires go up as much as 65+ lbs.

Anyone out there shopped tires for MPG? Yeah I know it's a truck. But I don't want to kill my mileage.

Sponsored

 

[Zaph]

I believe lighter tires are indeed important for a lot of reasons. Better gas mileage, better ride quality, quieter. So get a lower grade load range if you don't need it, like C instead of E. Compare BFG KO's weights below. If you aren't pulling a 7000 lb boat you likely don't need load range E.

Edit: image comes from tiresize.com, they have weights for a lot of brands. good info.

 

[daczone]

I believe lighter tires are indeed important for a lot of reasons. Better gas mileage, better ride quality, quieter. So get a lower grade load range if you don't need it, like C instead of E. Compare BFG KO's weights below. If you aren't pulling a 7000 lb boat you likely don't need load range E.

Edit: image comes from tiresize.com, they have weights for a lot of brands. good info.

So I guess the goal would be to find something that is lighter than the 66 lbs per tire/rim for my truck that looks good. (I have the black edition 18" with the factory tires) as my benchmark. I love the look of a bigger, I know they come with a huge weight penalty. I downsized my daily from 20 with a 35 profile tire to a lighter 18 rim and tire combo... for a much improved ride.

 

[bRaptor]

This is kind of why I like steelies. Not sure about the weight, but they look good and seem lighter.

 

[Zaph]

Well, I rate my tires like this:

1. Road noise
2. Street Ride quality
3. Snow traction
4. Off road traction for that 5% I hit the dirt
5. Looks
6. Gas mileage
7. Tire life

I will never forget my Mickey Thompson Baja Claws I had on my last Ranger. Looks? check. Off Road traction? Check. Road noise? OMG. Imagine two guys, one on your left, one on your right, continuously yelling in your ear: WAH WAH WAH WAH. ?

I suspect tread design is part agressiveness but actually more tread engineering, and you have to trust the company behind the tires. A manufacturer like Mickey Thompson isn't going to put the same tread engineering into tires that BF Goodrich is. Or better yet do a little research into user commentary on road noise.

 

[CO2Ranger]

I have about 90 lbs at each corner with new wheels and 285/70R17 Wildpeaks AT3WS C load. I'm not concerned about gas mileage as with my tune I'm still getting around 19 around town (leveled) and 23ish on the highway. However, my biggest concern is when aired down and crawling through trails. The steering gets really heavy and Im thinking the tie rods, steering rack, and front axles are going to wear much faster with all the added weight and stress.

 

[YaBoiNewton]

I know from experience.... the weight of a wheel/tire combo can have a huge effect on MPG. I've done this for my previous vehicle and current daily driver with excellent results (shopping by weight). The Stock Ford 18" tires for my truck come in at 35 lbs for the tire and 31 lbs for the rim. I'd LIKE to have a better, not necessarily bigger tire on my truck. I like the Nitto's but they are 41.5 lbs for the same size. Some tires go up as much as 65+ lbs.

Anyone out there shopped tires for MPG? Yeah I know it's a truck. But I don't want to kill my mileage.

You'll have to shop non-LT rated tires if weight is a big concern for you. This rules out tires like the Ridge Grappler or BFG KO2, but there are still a ton of P-rated options out there. Those aggressive LT tires aren't so important even for light off roading.

The LT Hankooks that came stock on my truck weighed about 45 lb and got pretty good gas mileage. Just added Standard load 32" duratracs (40lb) and I'm still seeing 21-22 mpg in my daily commute.

This is a very nuanced topic lol

 

[Apples]

Michelin LTs are my choice.

 

[Joeiconic]

I know from experience.... the weight of a wheel/tire combo can have a huge effect on MPG. I've done this for my previous vehicle and current daily driver with excellent results (shopping by weight). The Stock Ford 18" tires for my truck come in at 35 lbs for the tire and 31 lbs for the rim. I'd LIKE to have a better, not necessarily bigger tire on my truck. I like the Nitto's but they are 41.5 lbs for the same size. Some tires go up as much as 65+ lbs.

Anyone out there shopped tires for MPG? Yeah I know it's a truck. But I don't want to kill my mileage.

If you want a good AT tire with at least modest off road ability, 41 is about as light as you will find. 43 and up is more common and that will usually cost you a couple of MPG‘s, especially in stop and go driving. The stock tires are very lightweight compared to most other tires and I’m sure MPG‘s was Ford‘s primary criteria in choosing them.

 

[daczone]

You'll have to shop non-LT rated tires if weight is a big concern for you. This rules out tires like the Ridge Grappler or BFG KO2, but there are still a ton of P-rated options out there. Those aggressive LT tires aren't so important even for light off roading.

The LT Hankooks that came stock on my truck weighed about 45 lb and got pretty good gas mileage. Just added Standard load 32" duratracs (40lb) and I'm still seeing 21-22 mpg in my daily commute.

This is a very nuanced topic lol

So the Nitto's may be an option with a weight gain of only 6 lbs per corner without a big hit on mileage, I know it's a truck but I live about 30 miles from town, so everything is a commute. This isn't my only vehicle but it's the only one that will haul anything

 

[SilverSlugger]

Nitto has somthing called the Nomad Grappler which is sounds like it fits your needs.

 

[Nomad]

Dave,

Depending on what your needs are, I would say take a look at the Toyo Open Country AT3. Using the criteria that was posted above by Zaph, here is what my research has come up with it seems to hit a lot on the plus side, including being a lighter tire:

1. Road noise - Fairly quiet (supposedly one of the more subtle tires given how aggressive looking it is)
2. Street Ride quality - Good balance between street and off road ability
3. Snow traction - 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) symbol
4. Off road traction - Again, good balance between street and off road
5. Looks - Aggressive/good looks
6. Gas mileage - Depending on which load range you get/weight (p-rated 265/70/17 comes in at 39 lbs., I believe)
7. Tire life - good 55000/65000 tread life depending on which load range.

From the Toyo Web Site - "The Open Country A/T III all-terrain tire delivers gripping off-road traction with responsive and predictable on-road handling. With a strong focus on wet performance, durability, and treadwear life, and using Toyo’s proprietary T-mode tire development and modeling technologies, Toyo introduces advanced tread design, construction, and compounding. The Open Country A/T III provides a quiet ride with exceptional stability, instilling driving confidence no matter the terrain. Built tough, it offers peace of mind to safely get there and back home, regardless of terrain or weather. With a treadwear warranty of up to 65,000 miles, outdoor adventurers can rely on the Open Country A/T III for the long haul. "

Good Review - https://www.tiredeets.com/toyo-open-country-a-t-iii-review/

I, myself, am looking to pull the trigger on a set of P rated tires with weight being a factor (I do minimal off roading coupled with the fact that the interwoven belt design of even P-rated tires would keep me adequately safe on the "light" off roading). Just need to find a set of Tremor wheels (shameless plug if anyone has them and is willing to part) to pair them up with.

Hope this helps.

V/r
NOMAD

 

[Wes Siler]

Dave,

Depending on what your needs are, I would say take a look at the Toyo Open Country AT3. Using the criteria that was posted above by Zaph, here is what my research has come up with it seems to hit a lot on the plus side, including being a lighter tire:

1. Road noise - Fairly quiet (supposedly one of the more subtle tires given how aggressive looking it is)
2. Street Ride quality - Good balance between street and off road ability
3. Snow traction - 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) symbol
4. Off road traction - Again, good balance between street and off road
5. Looks - Aggressive/good looks
6. Gas mileage - Depending on which load range you get/weight (p-rated 265/70/17 comes in at 39 lbs., I believe)
7. Tire life - good 55000/65000 tread life depending on which load range.

From the Toyo Web Site - "The Open Country A/T III all-terrain tire delivers gripping off-road traction with responsive and predictable on-road handling. With a strong focus on wet performance, durability, and treadwear life, and using Toyo’s proprietary T-mode tire development and modeling technologies, Toyo introduces advanced tread design, construction, and compounding. The Open Country A/T III provides a quiet ride with exceptional stability, instilling driving confidence no matter the terrain. Built tough, it offers peace of mind to safely get there and back home, regardless of terrain or weather. With a treadwear warranty of up to 65,000 miles, outdoor adventurers can rely on the Open Country A/T III for the long haul. "

Good Review - https://www.tiredeets.com/toyo-open-country-a-t-iii-review/

I, myself, am looking to pull the trigger on a set of P rated tires with weight being a factor (I do minimal off roading coupled with the fact that the interwoven belt design of even P-rated tires would keep me adequately safe on the "light" off roading). Just need to find a set of Tremor wheels (shameless plug if anyone has them and is willing to part) to pair them up with.

Hope this helps.

V/r
NOMAD

+1 on the ATIII. Toyo's recently built American-made manufacturing process allows them to remove rubber from the tread and shoulders, anywhere it's not needed. That, plus higher quality steel for the belts is why they're a lot lighter than some of the older competition.

You're also going to want to stick with a P-metric. Versus an LT, a P-metric will use thinner, lighter construction, as well as a tighter tread pattern with a higher silica content compound. Benefits there are noise/aero, and wet traction. Downsides are traction on very loose stuff off road, and chipping on gravel.

More here (trigger warning for snowflakes: I wrote this article, it doesn't make sense to repeat a bunch of info I've already written) https://www.outsideonline.com/outdo...ything-you-need-know-about-all-terrain-tires/

And you can see that advantage in specs. A 265/60-18 (stock lariat size) ATIII is 37lbs.

You could go up to a 265/65-18 and stay at 41 lbs (the extra diameter will cost you MPGs)

 

[Wes Siler]

Nitto has somthing called the Nomad Grappler which is sounds like it fits your needs.

The Nomad Grapper is really designed for crossovers. I put a pair on my little brother's Forester. They're great there, but are basically just an aggressive looking road tire. I wouldn't use them on an actual truck that might see actual off-roading.

 

[daczone]

+1 on the ATIII. Toyo's recently built American-made manufacturing process allows them to remove rubber from the tread and shoulders, anywhere it's not needed. That, plus higher quality steel for the belts is why they're a lot lighter than some of the older competition.

You're also going to want to stick with a P-metric. Versus an LT, a P-metric will use thinner, lighter construction, as well as a tighter tread pattern with a higher silica content compound. Benefits there are noise/aero, and wet traction. Downsides are traction on very loose stuff off road, and chipping on gravel.

More here (trigger warning for snowflakes: I wrote this article, it doesn't make sense to repeat a bunch of info I've already written) https://www.outsideonline.com/outdo...ything-you-need-know-about-all-terrain-tires/

And you can see that advantage in specs. A 265/60-18 (stock lariat size) ATIII is 37lbs.

You could go up to a 265/65-18 and stay at 41 lbs (the extra diameter will cost you MPGs)

Great Article, Thanks for sharing that!

Sponsored