Tires and Gas Mileage

I am considering upgrading my stock tires. I am trying to get a feel for how that affects gas mileage. I know that people on this forum have switched to every variety/brand of off road tire in all sizes and load ratings.

Therefore, let's just consider a stock size, load C rated tire such as a KO2. What has been your experience with gas mileage with this and similar tires.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

I did not see any change in gas mileage when I switched over to my stock sized KO2 E-Rated. This was compared to about 500 miles on the factory tires and 500 on the BFGs.

 

You’re not going to see a notable difference with stock size.
Start adding on bigger tires, sliders, bumpers, etc. and the weight will bring your mileage down.

 

Thanks for the response. How is the ride on your E rated tires?

 

Been a while since we had one of these

 

Well, I don't have anything to compare it to except for the Bridgestone Dueller's that came with it (and my explorer with Michelin LTX's). I had the KO2 E-Ratings on for about a week before I had my suspension upgraded. Noticeable difference with increased road noise due to the more aggressive tread, however I did not notice any difference in actual quality of ride. Two different animals, really.

 

I’m averaging 27.5 MPG.

 

All 285s…

Destination MT: 14.1
Blizzak: 18.9
Rotiiva: 19.1
KO1: 16.5
KO2: 16.2

Snow tires were load range C, off road tires E.

 

How??? That's like decent for a normal car let alone a 4Runner.

 

Did you mean to put a 1 instead of that 2?

 

I was being a smartass because OP posted something that’s been asked a million times lol.

 

I've driven dozens of vehicles over the years and upgraded tires and suspensions on everything from a 1965 GTO to my 2019 4Runner. So far on the 4Runner, I have gone from stock Dunlops to stock-sized aggressive LT ATs (Goodyear Wrangler Authority AT), to LT285 mud terrain tires (Cooper Evolution MTs).

Stock, I got 20 mpg average on my daily 30 mile commute. Added aggressive E load range Goodyears that were about 15 lbs heavier each, and saw gas mileage drop about 1.5 mpg. Added a roof rack with a wind deflector and lost another 1 mpg. Lift and 33" mud tires dropped it another 1 mpg.

So, I'm now getting about 16.5 mpg.

How much more does that cost me each month in fuel costs in order to have a much more capable and attractive vehicle? Based on commuting about 500 miles a month and gas at $3.50 a gallon, it's $18.50 more a month due to the lift and tires.

I think $20 a month is not enough to worry about. Run what tire you like and need.

 

I averaged around 18 combined on stock size load range C KO2's. My best highway mileage was around 21.5 at 65 MPH. This was with a basket on the roof and leaded down with camping gear.

Fake news!

 

Agreed!

I try to save fuel however I can, but I'll run the tires that I want

 

Please provide a link that answers my specific question: Load C, stock size tire

 

I run K02 Load C 265/70/r17 on a lifted 4Runner. Pretty much OEM fuel economy and they are quiet, even on the highway, with 25k miles of wear on them. I'll argue I got better fuel economy with the K02 than the Nitto Terra G2s, the Falken Wildpeaks, and a Nitto Ridge Grapplers of my other 4runner, all of OEM size.

Now, here's where it gets wierd. A friend had 295/70/r17 nitto ridge grapplers (34"), and he only got 0.5 MPG worse than me on a 2 hour highway drive, hand calculated using my distance (cause his would be off) and the fill up of the tank.

My Tacoma was very sensitive to size and weight but the 4Runner much less so.

 

^ Also stock gears on my setup and his FYI. I am considering 285s and 4.56, however. I've been trying to see how bad that would change things, probably not much in the city and 2 MPG highway.

 

I have Yokohama Geolander MT's in that size and have gotten up to 19.9 MPG (corrected for tire size) at 55-60 MPH. I think your cruising speed and how aggressively you accelerate make more of a difference than tire size and weight.

 

Stock gears?

 

I'm on stock gears and I think anything bigger than these 295's will definitely require a regear. On load range C 285/70/17's I barely noticed a difference from stock. If you do the math, it's only a ~4% increase in diameter. I would definitely wait until you drive on the 285's awhile before re-gearing.

 

Yes

 

Had 285s on my other 4Runner, honestly drove pretty well.
However, considering a 2800# trailer, 300lbs tongue weight and I'm rather conservative on towing. I've towed a T@G boondock XL for about 10,000 of the 25,000 miles on my current 4Runner, and it only weighted about 1700 lbs. Pulled fine. But if you go heavier tires, heavier trailer, I'd rather make the Engine and Trans work less hard at the cost of MPG.

 

Seriously?

 

I’m on a 2” spacer lift, 1” springs rear, RCI alloy skids, 265/70-17 C KO2 on 8” rims. I average 19 mpg per the dashboard. I’ve never seen better than the 20.2 mpg it displayed on a road trip. Quiet enough. The KO2 definitely is a sturdier tire the stockers. Small road imperfections are a little more apparent. No complaints aside from wishing they were 285s. One of these months my Gobi will appear and I can share how I think that affects mileage and handling.

 

Yeah, that trailer definitely changes things up. A 4.56 might be a good option.

I've towed about 1500# while loaded down on the 295's and it was OK. But, I wouldn't want to tow double that weight. Especially not on a regular basis!

 

Yes and no. Stock size doesn't necessarily mean stock weight. Not to mention pattern and compound make a difference. In my Tacoma I switched to Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires from the stock Goodyears. Same size as stock. I still lost roughly 1-2 MPG in the same commute.

 

265's Nitto Terra Grappler - 17.4 average.
285's Bfg C KO 2 - 16.9 average.

 

Trying to get better gas mileage in a 4Runner with different tires is like trying to lose weight by eating hamburgers instead of brats.

 

I'd say not to improve MPG but rather to hold off the onslaught of it. It's not great to start, I think people are hoping to keep it reasonable.

 

Okay people trying to hold off the onslaught of gas mileage in a 4Runner with new tires is like wearing sweat pants while over eating instead of regular pants.