Bigger tires more hwy mpg?

[gimmie11s]

Not in reality. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is reducing the overall energy requirements. Taller tires are still at a mechanical disadvantage due to the longer lever of the increased radius. That's why people need to regear to move them. If they were more efficient you'd accelerate faster and maintain speed *easier* with larger tires, which obviously you don't. Even ignoring minor factors like sidewall flex and increased wind resistance, if no other factors change the shorter tire will get better fuel economy. Now, if you go to a taller tire with much stiffer sidewalls and lower rolling resistance, THOSE variables may make up for the others and you end up with better fuel economy. Going from a 33" mud tire to a 35" road tire, for example. Cleatus lore may confuse that with getting better fuel economy due to the taller tire, but it's not what happened.

I'd agree --if-- there was a heavy mix of city driving.

However, once on the highway -- for an extended period of time, my theoretical example listed above would get superior mileage due to the reduced effective gear ratio.

I largely agree with what you are saying though.

 

[IndyRamMega]

There is absolutely a weight difference. Youre not serious, are you? Stock tires to 37's???

I can promise you, you are not getting better milage.

I understand grasping the actual tire size is hard for you...read my post again....I said it's NOT like I went to 37's....the 255's are 33's....up from the stock 32.....and again....promise all you want....mpg went up a .5 .....not like it actually matters tho...if you bought this truck for mpg's your doing it wrong ...

 

[IndyRamMega]

I'd agree --if-- there was a heavy mix of city driving.

However, once on the highway -- for an extended period of time, my theoretical example listed above would get superior mileage due to the reduced effective gear ratio.

I largely agree with what you are saying though.

This is hilarious.....in this statement you are literally agreeing with what I said above....so why talk out of both sides?

 

[gimmie11s]

This is hilarious.....in this statement you are literally agreeing with what I said above....so why talk out of both sides?

Read again

What I said was if someone was able to magically create a tire that was larger while being the same width and the same weight (fairy tale tire does not exist BTW), then they would experience an increase on ONLY hwy travel due to the change in effective ratio.

I agree'd with the other guy in that city mpg would still be worse.

 

[gimmie11s]

I understand grasping the actual tire size is hard for you...read my post again....I said it's NOT like I went to 37's....the 255's are 33's....up from the stock 32.....and again....promise all you want....mpg went up a .5 .....not like it actually matters tho...if you bought this truck for mpg's your doing it wrong ...

Nice try.

....it's not like there's a weight difference because I went to 37's from 32's....

Oops!

 

[A6t8vw]

Have any more pics with the new tires?

Not sure Toyo AT3's qualify as "least aggressive tread" tires . Don't get me wrong, great choice, they look terrific, and me personally I wouldn't put highway tread tires on unless I was only on the road, only running in decent weather.

@dave I think only maybe the nitto recon is less aggressive in 255/80 ? I haven’t seen them in person but appears that could be the case. Nitros don’t have a tread wear warranty , toyos do. Although I think it’s sorta a scam, idk.

I have about 1” gap between the rear tires. I’ll see what it looked like loaded next week.

Mpg wise- can’t tell a difference maybe 1mpg loss averaged however only 400 miles on the truck .

I still have my 700hp 2006 2500 but will be selling it .

 

[2001WS6]

@dave I think only maybe the nitto recon is less aggressive in 255/80 ? I haven’t seen them in person but appears that could be the case. Nitros don’t have a tread wear warranty , toyos do. Although I think it’s sorta a scam, idk.

I have about 1” gap between the rear tires. I’ll see what it looked like loaded next week.

Mpg wise- can’t tell a difference maybe 1mpg loss averaged however only 400 miles on the truck .

I still have my 700hp 2006 2500 but will be selling it .

Sweet ride!

It came with steel rims?

 

[gimmie11s]

@dave I think only maybe the nitto recon is less aggressive in 255/80 ? I haven’t seen them in person but appears that could be the case. Nitros don’t have a tread wear warranty , toyos do. Although I think it’s sorta a scam, idk.

I have about 1” gap between the rear tires. I’ll see what it looked like loaded next week.

Mpg wise- can’t tell a difference maybe 1mpg loss averaged however only 400 miles on the truck .

I still have my 700hp 2006 2500 but will be selling it .

LOVE it.

 

[A6t8vw]

Sweet ride!

It came with steel rims?

Yes , I’ll probably upgrade the wheels at some point. The steel wheels are low maintenance which seems to be trending in my life as I get older lol . Only (43yo)

I’ve been setting this truck up for a truck camper and towing off an 3’ ball mount extension .
Here is my setup with old truck shown. Dually short bed

 

[gimmie11s]

Yes , I’ll probably upgrade the wheels at some point. The steel wheels are low maintenance which seems to be trending in my life as I get older lol . Only (43yo)

I’ve been setting this truck up for a truck camper and towing off an 3’ ball mount extension .
Here is my setup with old truck shown. Dually short bed
View attachment 65019

Nice XCW. Where is that pic taken?

 

[A6t8vw]

Nice XCW. Where is that pic taken?

Xcf-w , this is in the California high desert near Baker off rasor Rd

 

[gimmie11s]

Xcf-w , this is in the California high desert near Baker off rasor Rd

Ha! For a minute, that bike looked like a 2 stroke.

We were in Dumont Dunes 2 weeks ago. EPIC place to ride, that whole area out there.

 

[Dave01]

I’ve been setting this truck up for a truck camper and towing off an 3’ ball mount extension .
Here is my setup with old truck shown. Dually short bed

What's the matter with you, no boat being towed behind the toy hauler trailer?

That's a really nice looking setup, looking forward to seeing it with the newer Ram.

 

[AH64ID]

@dave I think only maybe the nitto recon is less aggressive in 255/80 ? I haven’t seen them in person but appears that could be the case. Nitros don’t have a tread wear warranty , toyos do. Although I think it’s sorta a scam, idk.

I have about 1” gap between the rear tires. I’ll see what it looked like loaded next week.

Mpg wise- can’t tell a difference maybe 1mpg loss averaged however only 400 miles on the truck .

I still have my 700hp 2006 2500 but will be selling it .

Which rear hitch is that?

 

[CFE]

Yes , I’ll probably upgrade the wheels at some point. The steel wheels are low maintenance which seems to be trending in my life as I get older lol . Only (43yo)

I’ve been setting this truck up for a truck camper and towing off an 3’ ball mount extension .
Here is my setup with old truck shown. Dually short bed
View attachment 65019

show that camper off - let us see the inside!

 

[SpeyRam]

@A6t8vw Nice looking rig! What model and year Lance?

 

[Jayc2111]

Just picked up a 23 3500 HO dually with the 4.10 gearing, I'm considering 255/80R17 (33") or 255/85 (34") "least aggressive tread" tires on the stock wheels. Has anyone had experience with increased hwy MPG with the reduced RPM? I'm assuming the added weight and city driving will offset any gains but thought i would ask what others have experienced.

*edit , I would feel better lowering the RPM @ 70-80 mph in general. With my current setup i only tow about 10k but i have a 3500lb Lance camper in the bed and around 900lb tongue weight towing a 20' enclosed trailer with a jeep inside.

thanks,

I have a 24' Ram 3500 DRW HO with 4.10 and put 37's on with a .05" Thuren Level Kit. The larger tires will reduce MPG due to larger tire having more resistance, wind drag, etc. Lower RPM's don't necessarily equate to better MPG. I lost about 1.5 MPG but the ride is so much better and worth it in my opinion. Still retained the towing capacity and have pulled 20k lbs/4,600 lbs pin weigh 5th wheel with no problem.

 

[johanh13]

No. RPM isn't a measure of fuel economy, as different amounts of fuel will be required to maintain the same RPM under different conditions. Your RPM doesn't change (without a shift in gears) going up an incline vs going down a decline, but obviously your pedal position and fuel consumption will change.

Larger tires are larger levers, requiring more energy. Larger tires *tend* to be heavier tires, requiring more energy.

You will see mpg reduction across the board.

I agree that he will likely see a small decrease in MPG, due to added weight and additional height (he is wanting 'least-aggressive' tread, so that should not be much of a factor). However, you state that larger tires are larger levers. This is similar to changing your gear ratio; for example 4.10 to 3.73 is about 10%, would be very similar (except as noted above) to going from 30" tires to 33" tires... Of course your speedometer will not register this change unless you actually correct it by proper programming, easily done with AlfaOBD.

 

[gimmie11s]

I agree that he will likely see a small decrease in MPG, due to added weight and additional height (he is wanting 'least-aggressive' tread, so that should not be much of a factor). However, you state that larger tires are larger levers. This is similar to changing your gear ratio; for example 4.10 to 3.73 is about 10%, would be very similar (except as noted above) to going from 30" tires to 33" tires... Of course your speedometer will not register this change unless you actually correct it by proper programming, easily done with AlfaOBD.

The gear change is not equal because the 2 different gear sets basically weigh the same.

Going to a larger tire adds at least 20 lbs per corner (40 if DRW) if not more which wreaks havoc on your MPG.

I have 35's on my 4.10/HO DRW and will not go back to stock sized tire, but my MPG has absolutely decreased anywhere between 2-4mpg combined per tank depending on how I drive it.

 

[johanh13]

Hence me mentioning [some] of the exceptions, and saying 'similar' instead of 'same'. If there were no height increase, no weight increase, no more aggressive tread; only taller, THEN it would more the 'same'!