AMO Buckshot MTB 16" rims, yay or nay?

So, here are some sad stats. I was running 245/75R16 at 40psi on 7" and was getting 21-35mpg, easy. Now I'm running those same 245's on the 8", and originally the shop put them at 29psi and I COULD NOT get over 20mpg, more like 11-12mpg, so then I put them at 38psi and am now floating around in 16-25mpg territory, which will average 19mpg probably.

DAMN. Maybe going back up to 40psi, even 42 might help, but I'm sad to see such a pronounced drop with such a small size change. Taking off is like moving through cold honey, or uses 3mpg.

 

35 mpg with the v6 ?

 

Yup. Not as a tank average, but going down the highway, when you reach 60mph, let off the gas just a hair and I can keep my mpg between 28-35. Put it in N and coast on steep hills, them RPM match and put it back into gear when you slow down by about 5mph to reach 85-120mpg. What kills my mileage is the taking off. When using a real-time MPG stat, I get 3-8mpg coming from a dead stop all the way to 4th, which is then 12-16mpg, 5th varies greatly, and then 6th is my sweet spot with 18-35mpg if I get to speed and back off to hold mph steady.

My first tank was 18mpg as I learned the 6-speed, then my 2nd tank was 21.#, my 3rd tank could have been 23mpg if it wasn't for these tires. I'll probably get stuck in the 19-21mpg range until I do an underbody cover or something.

 

My max is 44 on this set, and I haven't taken it on a long, hot trip yet, so they haven't reached their max through driving. I've always run 5-7psi below max and everything from Goodyear to Firestone to Dunlop to Pirelli to General to whatever-I-had-on-the-Explorer has done very well (long-lasting tread with even wear, good sidewalls, etc.). My Explorer tires are going on 8-9 years, 50,000-miles, and still look really good. (Well, it's my neighbor's Explorer now...)

 

RUN, don't walk to Discount Tires. I'm getting a set of brand new Hankooks, 265/75R16s, for $450 out the door I'm glad I waited on those tires!

 

HOW???????

 

It's a blow-out sale for that size, that style Hankook. Just so happened these are the exact ones I was going to buy used!