Tires for MPG?

Good looking out, I appreciate the analysis. Here’s where I was coming from: I figure I’m going to wear out my stock shoes eventually, yeah? So new tires are an unavoidable expense, along with mounting, balancing, TPMS etc. My thought was, then why wear them out all up front? Why not wear them out only on on days when they’re the right tool for the job, thus stretching out their useable service life without letting any rubber go to waste? Sure, that’s an hour of work each swap, but I don’t do spontaneous wheeling, there’s a morning of packing involved anytime I’m heading for the woods.

As for easy-rollers costing extra, the tires listed above that people are reporting gains with are about in line with reasonable, economical options, and $50/tire cheaper than the stockers, that’s savings on savings, and protecting those expensive stock shoes for the right day is really what inspired me to look into all this.

The one true cost of this is of course the wheels. That could definitely sink this whole plan, but that’s exactly why I was looking for some real-world results, so I could do some number crunching and see if my silly vision made any sense.

Does that make sense? I don’t want to look like I’m dismissing your analysis. I sincerely appreciate your critical thoughts here, that’s the best way for me to see what I’m missing, for sure.

And don’t worry, silly fairing is on the list. I’m San Jose, so Santa Rosa, I’ll have to think about, but it’s on the list

 

What everyone is saying, is the best way to increase mpg is free. While free, it's not easy. Change your driving habits if you really want better mpg. Just a few minor things can increase your mpg up to 20% and that's even before using any hypermiling tricks.
While you think it can't be done by you, Toyota has a few tips https://www.toyota.com/car-tips/fuel-efficient-driving-techniques-that-work every time... and they are free!
From experience, the only time it is good to have two sets of tires to swap is when one set is foing to be on the truck for months at a time, like snow tires. It gets old fast changing tires for just a few days.
Laat thing.... unless your two sets of tires are drastically different, like heavy E rated mud tires to light P rated summer tires, your savings is going to be in tenths of a mpg, not a 10% change. There are three things that make a tire more efficient: Tire compound, tread design and lastly, weight. Your tires better be a lot different in each area to see any real change.
Good luck.

 

I appreciate that as well.

When did I say changing driving habits can’t be done by me? I could have spoken poorly, but my intention in that earlier post was to convey that I am attempting to drive efficiently, (and am professionally well aware of good smooth driving and anticipation-based driving as described in the link) I just have had mixed and confusing results, which I blame on our overthinking ‘smart’ transmission.

I also believe that it would get old if I was changing frequently, but say this year I would have only put on the stock tires twice, for a week at a time each. And each of those trips took a full day to load up and unload at each end anyway, so I think I could put up with one more tire change. I think. It’s s point well taken though.

As for the tenth of a mile, we’ve got at least one point claiming a couple mpgs, which would be over 10% in my case, just about 10% in his. That’s only one data point, could be misleading, but it makes me think it’s possible.

I’m not trying to sound obstinate. I’m fully ready to accept that this is a bad plan, not like I’ve bought wheels, I’m just here looking for data with which to make an informed decision

 

And let me be clear, I know you’re all taking time out of your days to write thoughtful responses to me that don’t improve your own lives one bit. So I take all your words as generous gestures. I hope my argumentative nature doesn’t make me appear ungrateful or dismissive. I’m taking all your advice to heart. Just want to involve some numbers in my decision as well.

Thank you

 

One data point is not a trend lol. If you want to analyze something, find every spec on your existing tires. Weight, tread design, tread width, etc. Next, start researching a more efficient tire and compare. The formulas are simple for rolling resistance and there are easy rules of thumb for unsprung mass penalties.
Once you do this then it can be estimated what your savings will be with your new tires.
I will tell you this... if most of your driving is around town you will save more with light tires.
If you need help just message me.

 

Thinking about saving your "stock rubber" is kind of a moot point as well. Nearly everyone on here does the exact OPPOSITE that you're doing and pulls off the stock tires and puts something more aggressive on. Myself I added a 3" OME HD Lift, new SCS SR8 wheels (16" they're lighter) and 255 85 R16 Cooper ST Maxx tires. With this set up according to my Fuelly app I'm getting right about 18 MPG on my daily commute which is more than acceptable. I did NOT put new TPMS sensors in my "summer" tire set up since I'm more than capable of checking my tire pressures. I kept my stock wheels and tires to run in the Salty winters up here in NY rather than ruin my nice SCS Rims.

I would say if you're in SoCal its going to be VERY VERY VERY easy to find a stock set of Tacoma Rims/ Tires since there's a ton of people out there taking them off for something more aggressive right of the bat. I'd check Craigslist or here on TW... You can likely pick up an entire set of new rims and tires for $500 bucks? Maybe a bit more (without TPMS installed of course everyone keeps those).

I would not worry about saving your stock tires for anything off road. They aren't that great to start with, ultimately you are chasing after something that at least to most on here doesn't make much sense. Of course it's your truck and your tires so do what makes you happy but saving stock Tires has got to be a first for me I usually can't get them off fast enough. Run them for 3 or 4 years than put new ones on it. Maybe your tastes will be different by than.


Proper Taco rubber

*** One more note ***

I'm also likely doing better than the 18 MPG Fuelly says because of the larger diameter of my new tires I am traveling farther per revolution. And of anyone who doesn't think that is a factor my daily commute got "shorter" and my on dash Garmin InReach reads my speed over ground about 3 MPH FASTER than my speedo now. I probably should get it recalibrated...

 

Aw, that's a bummer tone shift. I said myself that it was "only" one data point and that it "could be misleading."

In any event, absolutely, I'll shoot you a message if you'd rather not talk about it here, and I really appreciate the offer of help. Would just prefer to have the info in a nice searchable public post for anyone who comes later.

 

Good points. I've definitely noticed that trend, but I always kinda figured the posts from folks doing that were doing far more aggressive wheeling than I (requiring lifts etc) as I've had great performance on the dirt and snow so far with the wranglers.

Actually I've always figured everyone on this forum was doing more aggressive stuff than I...

 

If the numbers work and the testing works then it would be a perfect write up for you. Or, do it public, your choice.

 

That's definitely the plan A, message sent though

 

I bought my '16 trd or as my daily driver and learned how to drive like an old man to increase mpgs. However I was only averaging 20-21 per tank unless I was in highway, which I could get 23-25 depending on speed and flatness.(added front spoiler and leer cap did help, think the sliders probably offset some gains). I came to the realization that the only real way to burn significantly less gas in it was to buy an old civic to use as daily driver. Now I get 38-41mpg on average for "stupid miles" meaning commute and errands. Then when using truck for fun,don't worry about mpg as much.

 

I appreciate the sentiment, but as per yota’s above analysis, I can imagine how long it takes to earn back a 6k civic investment, plus I’ll spend more time annually maintaining that than I will changing tires for this ride. Not to mention regular car seats swapping, finding parking for an extra car, chasing used vehicle gremlins etc.

I’m no hypermiler, all I’ve ever owned are compact pickups, I love driving my truck, if I could get myself up to 23mpg I’d be ecstatic. Mostly, as above, I just feel like I’m driving around on the wrong tools for the job and I’d like to save those tools for the right situation.

Kinda like driving a truck where a civic would do, I guess...

Again, I appreciate all the input, but I was never expecting tires to be a start to finish solution here, which I think is the impression people are getting. Nor is fuel economy my only interest. I had a thought, and I was just looking for data to help evaluate that thought.

 

Makeitwork,

I understand where you are coming from 1000%. When I said an old Civic, I wasn't kidding.. it's '02 5speed.. I have $1800 in it all in.. I wasn't planning on getting it but lucked into it. Saved $600+ in gas in the year that I've owned it so my break even point is about 3yrs. If I had spent more than $3k all in, then the math wouldn't work out.

 

Strong work, friend

 

Being an owner of several cars... be sure you’re counting insurance premiums, maintenance, and wear items. You save wear and tear on your other vehicles but rarely do you ever actually keep more money in your pocket owning multiple cars... though perhaps residual value of the Taco may help to offset.

 

Well, since you mentioned insurance and since I brought up the beater car as daily driver...

When I added a second vehicle to my policy I got a multi car discount, then took truck from daily use to pleasure use, the net result on insurance policy was an additional $60 per year.

 

might be off subject but do you theoretically get better milage with a 15" rim or 20" rim on say 35's?

 

I guess it could be something to get caught up in like anything else. But if you are really that concerned with saving a 100 dollars a year in gas and pinch pennies to that level I don't even understand why you are on here or why you have a new truck.

 

I got 20.0 flat this morning with my Falken Wildpeaks. 265/75

And thats without accounting for the larger size in the onboard computer.

 

What size are the Michelin tires you installed?