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Do you base model guys with tiny wheels and tires get better mileage?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by HI SPEED, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. Sep 20, 2012 at 5:58 PM
    #1
    HI SPEED

    HI SPEED [OP] Member

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    My buddy is considering trucks to buy for his solar panel business. He asked me what kind of mileage I was getting with my 6 speed v6 prerunner. I told him honestly that I average between 14-17 mpg city. No big deal for me because I have a company car provided for day to day, and only pull my taco out on the weekend. That would kill him though driving around loaded up in stop and go city traffic all day.

    I see that the stripper tacomas come with a tiny wheel/tire package, and I was wondering if it made a huge difference?

    There is a chance I will be relocating to the east coast at some point. I wonder if it would make enough of a difference to pick up a cheap set of steelies for the cross country trip.
     
  2. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:02 PM
    #2
    RichP

    RichP Dedicated Toyota Buyer

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    My 2.7 AT has averaged around 25mpg. Now that's not carrying any loads, but I bet even fully loaded the mileage would still be better than 17mpg.
     
  3. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:03 PM
    #3
    iroh

    iroh Well-Known Member

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    Nope, you can't run less than a 16" rim thanks to the front 4-piston calipers on PreRunner/4x4. Even if you could the actual mileage would go down because it would raise your effective gear ratio.

    The base 5 lug models with the Ford Aspire donuts get that physics-defying mileage boost because of the 3.31 gears in the rear end, as opposed to the 3.73s us less fortunate folk get to drive. The gear difference is greater than the tire size difference, so rpm is lower, and there's less rolling mass to boot, not to mention 215 treadwidth vs 245/265 6 lug options.

    Stripper tacomas.... that made me LOL. Pink hair standard?
     
  4. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:03 PM
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    The Traveler

    The Traveler Desert Chief

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    Smaller wheels/tires = less rolling distance per revolution + lighter wheels/tires = less power needed to get the truck moving

    =

    yes they get better mileage. Probably more or less what the EPA rates us at 19/22 for a double cab base model.
     
  5. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:35 PM
    #5
    jpmorrisvb

    jpmorrisvb Well-Known Member

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    Ouch!
    Basic Stats

    • 23.5--avg MPG
    • 29.7(+2.9) last MPG
    • 32.0(7/15/11) highest MPG
     
  6. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:36 PM
    #6
    yota243

    yota243 Well-Known Member

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    higher gears technically mean worse city mileage since the truck is have to work harder to accelerate than it would with lower gears. lower gears and smaller tires = better city while sacrificing hwy and larger tires higher gear net a better hwy w/ worse city. this is why there is such a gap between city and highway in newer vehicles trying to get a high epa hwy so they can say "30 mpg hwy" or what ever and only 19 city or something to that effect. Smaller tires with stock gears may tell you that u are getting better gas mileage but ur not really going as far as ur odo says u are and the reverse is true for larger tires, better than u calculate because u have gone farther than ur odo says.
     
  7. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:47 PM
    #7
    jpmorrisvb

    jpmorrisvb Well-Known Member

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    Now I really don't believe that this is true although I read it on the internet ... :confused: ... so it has to be true ... ;) ... driver's who put larger tires on their vehicles are compensating for having a small penis.:eek:

    It is not your fault ... blame it on your parents.

    Although you'll never hear me say it, but it is on the internet :cool:.
     
  8. Sep 20, 2012 at 6:49 PM
    #8
    08pretaco

    08pretaco Well-Known Member

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    I believe I am someone that falls out of the norm.

    My 2.7 5 speed with 35's and the suspension, being geared at 4.56...I am getting 23+ for freeway driving and mixed 50/50 last time I checked was about 22ish iirc. I hardly drive the truck anymore as I got a DD.
     
  9. Sep 20, 2012 at 7:43 PM
    #9
    Larry

    Larry CARL

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    I actually think a little reg cab 4 cylinder 5 lugger would be fun to own and bang around town in.
     
  10. Sep 20, 2012 at 8:52 PM
    #10
    RichP

    RichP Dedicated Toyota Buyer

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    Mine's not a regular cab but with the SR5 package it's a darn good DD - and that's what I bought it for.
     
  11. Sep 20, 2012 at 8:58 PM
    #11
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    Hmm, stripper Tacomas...

    [​IMG]

    On a serious note, your truck is EPA rated at 16 mpg city. The 5-lugger trucks with small wheels get 19 mpg for the automatic and 21 mpg for the stick. The improvement comes mostly from the 4-cyl engine. (The X-Runner is basically a 5-lugger with a V6, and it's EPA milage is the same as yours.)
     
  12. Sep 20, 2012 at 9:00 PM
    #12
    worthywads

    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    That's a stripper escalade
     
  13. Sep 20, 2012 at 9:38 PM
    #13
    HI SPEED

    HI SPEED [OP] Member

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    Would a lower profile tire make any appreciable difference?
     
  14. Sep 20, 2012 at 9:51 PM
    #14
    Larry

    Larry CARL

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    doubtful

    low profile tires are designed for performance cornering...less side wall flexing.
     
  15. Sep 20, 2012 at 9:59 PM
    #15
    GuapOh

    GuapOh Well-Known Member

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    I have 2 sets of OE OR wheels. My 2.7 gets about 23 average when I run my OE Dunlop wheels and tires. I average about 18 when I run my alternative Toyo MT e rated tires and wheels. Certainly a big difference.
     
  16. Sep 21, 2012 at 4:41 AM
    #16
    kingston73

    kingston73 Well-Known Member

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    My 4.0 with 16 inch 265's gets 18 av. in mixed driving and if I keep it under 70mph I can get 21mpg easy on the highway. This is based on what my scangauge tells me, I don't always check when I fill up but when I do the scangauge agrees with my basic math skills of dividing gallons and miles driven.
     
  17. Sep 21, 2012 at 4:53 AM
    #17
    Burns

    Burns Excellent Member

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    For a work truck I would most definitely get a 5-lugger, hell if I get another Tacoma I might be getting a 5-lugger.


    [​IMG]
    And your truck Sir is badass!
     
  18. Sep 21, 2012 at 6:02 AM
    #18
    iroh

    iroh Well-Known Member

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    I see Toyota's website lists the 2013 automatic 5 lugger gets a 3.58 rear end but the manual keeps the 3.31.

    The EPA mileage of the 5 speed (21/25) is now officially higher than the 4 speed (19/24).
     
  19. Sep 21, 2012 at 8:30 AM
    #19
    worthywads

    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    ^

    That is the way it's been for all 2nd generation.
     
  20. Sep 21, 2012 at 9:19 AM
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    shemp

    shemp Well-Known Member

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    There are a number of things that influence fuel consumption;
    Aerodynamic profile -- lower to the ground means less air disturbance means lower fuel consumption,
    Engine -- smaller engine consumes less fuel.
    Gearing -- higher gearing causes the engine to spin slower and reduces fuel consumption.

    Base 4-cyl 2wd non-prerunners can get over 30 mpg on the highway.
     

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