Tires, MPG & Fuel Operating Costs

With motor fuel skyrocketing (and will continue to rise for some time), I thought I would post this.

I own a 2017 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 Access Cab. Perfect truck outside of the fuel pump replacement under warranty. I drive fairly close to posted speed limits but do not hyper mile. I drive approximately 14,000 miles every 12 months. I ride 33 LBS./tire.

With the stock TOYO Open Country A30 tires, my MPG was about 24.1 MPG (combined). They were great riding, quality tires.

In 2021, I replaced the stock tires with TOYO Open Country H/T 2’s (a more expensive upgrade). My new MPG is now 21.25 (combined) - a decrease. Ride quality is firmer. After researching why was I realizing worse fuel economy, I discovered that the H/T 2's have a higher rolling resistance and are heaver in weight.

So what is the cost for a couple less miles per gallon of fuel?

When fuel was $3.20/gallon, the difference in my fuel operating costs were $249./year higher for the H/T 2’s. Over the life of the tires (4 years), the operating fuel cost is $996. higher for the H/T 2’s. So essentially, the fuel savings I would have realized had I stayed with the A30’s would have paid for a new set of tires including balancing and a front end alignment.

Now, with fuel at $4.50/gallon (currently here), the difference in operating costs are $349./year more for the H/T 2’s. Over the life of the tires (4 years), the cost is $1396. higher for the H/T 2’s. Over the life of the vehicle (I generally keep my vehicles for 12 years), the higher price paid for tires that reduce MPG (in my case) is $16,752!

The quality, type and brand of tire you select makes a difference in fuel operating costs. I like the H/T 2’s, but not at that price. As a TOYO customer, I’m going back to A30’s when it’s time for tires again.

 

Welcome aboard

 

Hasn’t OP been on here since 2018?

 

7 whole posts in 4 years then a rant (albeit with actual data given) like this? Is the OP a real person? This post reads like it’s AI written… sometimes bots will find inactive accounts and take them over and post shit that reads just like this. That plus the odd formatting; often another sign. All I’m saying is that something seems fishy here.

 

Might have been a good idea to have done this research before you bought the tires.

 

Informative and well written. Sometimes it takes the high price of fuel to bring out the "why is my gas cost so high in people".

 

Average 24mpg in a 6 cyl 4x4 Tacoma? Now unhappy with 21?

Yes, something is fishy.

 

Yesterday I drove 60 miles each way to pick-up my daughter. For giggles, I kept the speed at the posted speed limit between 55-60 mph the entire way. According to the trip computer I averaged 29.1 mpg!!! 4cyl 4x2 sr access cab(Orkin special LOL) on stock tires/no lift.

Funniest part is that I wasn't the only person driving like that. The highway's posted speed limit is 55 and normally if you're going under 70 you get run off the road. Everyone was just cruising around at 55-60 on a lazy Sunday afternoon! Well, except the State Trooper that was flew by at 80+...

 

Yeah, that's the thing most ask, when buying new tires... not price, tread life in miles, noise level, load rating...

 

People are definitely driving slower. Think of the impact this will have on government budgets that rely on speeding tickets as income source. Also that lotto ticket you buy each week will be going in the gas tank

 

This is a good thing !

 

Good post OP, and thanks for taking the time to share. For what it's worth, I thought your formatting was very human

 

I agree, good post. Other than the math being fuzzy ($249-yr X 12) != $16,752.

I don’t see it as rant either. It has more data than most of the posts here.

 

It's not the thing most asked, but it is part of what should be asked. A higher load rating tire for example will give you a stiffer ride, give more road resistance, and most likely be heavier.

 

I'll bet rolling resistance as in tread style is directly proportional to noise level.

 

I put on some new tires with better traction (Cooper Discoverer ATP II) and mileage went down at least 1 MPG, but yesterday I had no trouble getting up a snowy muddy road at > 20 degree incline! A few times on the same road with the OEM Wranglers I had serious issues.

I threw some Lucas fuel additive in the tank yesterday, didnt use the cruise control much, kept it at ~70 MPH and averaged 20.0 MPG on the the highway up in to the mountains and back, and then >21 back in flatlands on the highway.

But how in the hell does Toyota tell me that theres a 21 gallon fuel tank? 21 gallons x 20 MPG = 420 miles range, yet my trip computer has never registered more than ~320....???????

 

You drove 4 years on stock tires: ± $0 from baseline
12 years total ownership - 4 years stock tires = 8 years
8 years @ +$349 per year new tire fuel cost over baseline = 8*349 = $2792

 

I actually provided this post to illustrate that beyond "looks", "size", "deals" etc., poor choices made in purchasing tires actually can be very costly. I used myself as an example. Quality, rolling resistance and weight are much more important factors. Vmax540 is correct, the H/T 2's are actually louder.

For those inquiring minds, I don't post. I joined this forum in 2018 to extract solid, accurate information that Toyota/Dealer/Techs can't or won't provide. I service my own vehicle. Not a rant. An observation. A real person.

MidCitiesMildMan is correct, my calculation above is incorrect. Should be (at todays fuel prices) Fuel Savings per year with the stock TOYO tires $349 x 12 years = $4188. And that's the lesson I learned FL_TRD Sport, I'll never make that mistake again!

 

I’m willing to divert $349 in the name of freedom.

 

I donated $1000.00 last week.