How Much Does Weight and Rolling Resistance Affect Gas Mileage?

[01_ranger_4x4]

You'll notice they suck for grip on pavement AND wear out faster.

actually ive had them for over 10,000 miles now and ive notice neither of those.

 

[Dweano]

Haha yeah I think I will stay with mud tires. I'll just try to get a lightish one? Or one with low rolling resistance...ok while I'm on the topic and sounding like a noob. Whats the deal with plys? Like I have six ply toyo's I think. And my bud has 10 ply toyos on his truck. Whats the difference? I know the actual difference (4 plys haha) but like...that would make his tires more heavy right? But would they last longer? So confusing I just want the perfect tire haha

 

[Dweano]

What about these? https://www.treadwright.com/shopnow/product/tabid/61/productid/77/sename/31575r16-guard-dog.aspx I'm feeling em haha. Harder rubber? And you can inflate them to like...80 psi (well, all others say that) When they come out... I might try them. Same tread pattern as the MT/R...good tire right?

 

[superds]

Haha yeah I think I will stay with mud tires. I'll just try to get a lightish one? Or one with low rolling resistance...ok while I'm on the topic and sounding like a noob. Whats the deal with plys? Like I have six ply toyo's I think. And my bud has 10 ply toyos on his truck. Whats the difference? I know the actual difference (4 plys haha) but like...that would make his tires more heavy right? But would they last longer? So confusing I just want the perfect tire haha

So, the term "ply" dates back when the certain number of plys meant one tire had x number of plys and was more durable/puncture resistant than another tire that had x-1 number of plys.

This is no longer necessarily the case. Now they use the term "10 ply rating" even though it may have fewer plys than 10, but it is as durable/puncture resistant as a tire with 10 plys. Advances in material allowed this to happen. For example, the manufacturers introduced better rubber compounds and kevlar reinforcement to make tires that are stronger but have fewer plys than preceding tires so this new tire may be as strong as a tire from the 1970s with 10 plys but they only had to put 4 plys in the tire to accomplish that strength. So instead of calling it a 4 ply tire the say it has a 10 ply rating.

And yes, generally, more plys or higher ply rating would mean a heavier tire.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I run my 14.50 wide 37's at 20psi up front and 18psi in the rear.....and can still manage 16-19 mpg depending on how I drive.

If you stick to a 12.50" tire on a 10" rim you can run a higher pressure and keep the tire flat which will help mileage. Keeping your vehicle tuned up properly will make a huge difference as well, I just cleaned the crap outta my MAF from the last outing (need a snorkel....ugh) and definitely noticed an improvement in smooth running and fuel mileage as well.

The more ply's generally (but not always) give a higher load rating and are made from a harder compound so they will last longer but ride rougher. The size of the tire also makes a difference in rating though, I've got E rated 245/75R16's that are 3100lbs max load and 10 ply, and my toyo's are C rated 6 ply's and 3000lbs max load rated.

Find a tire that you like, and run it. My vote for a rough terrain daily driver tire is the Goodyear Duratrac, but they only make limited larger sizes......

 

[superds]

Haha, I'm an idiot. I spent all that time trying to explain the ply rating thing and probably did a poor job. All I needed to do is post this link: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=55

And specifically this exerpt:

Originally Posted by Tirerack.com
Today's load range/ply ratings do not count the actual number of body ply layers found inside the tire, but indicate an equivalent strength based on early bias ply tires. Most radial passenger tires have one or two body plies, and light truck tires, even those with heavy duty ratings (10-, 12- or 14-ply rated), actually have only two or three fabric body plies, or one steel ply.

 

[strvger]

i'm a big fan of TreadWright tires. i have a set of their AT's with at least 14,000 miles on them and they have close to 80% of their tread left! they seem to last forever on the lighter vehicles. very good traction in winter snow and ice and pretty good in the 6-8 inches of mud we get every spring. the AT's aren't too noisy, and the ride is not bad at all for a "10 ply" E rated tire. i just keep the psi around 28-30. i've been on 4 trips with them, each about 1,600+ miles. never an issue. never run hot at those psi's, don't worry about punctures, and can't beat the price and quality! i'd be running the tires in your link if mine wasn't more of a dd. just my $.02.

 

[pillen140]

I went from a dunlop rvxt rover to bfg at... I think the at was about 5lbs heavier each. I lost about 2mpg. Same size tires.... But you also have to worry about tread compound. The softer a tire is, usually you get less mpg. There are a lot of factors. Tread pattern, compound weight etc. Etc. That will -+mpg.

 

[Dweano]

I run my 14.50 wide 37's at 20psi up front and 18psi in the rear.....and can still manage 16-19 mpg depending on how I drive.

If you stick to a 12.50" tire on a 10" rim you can run a higher pressure and keep the tire flat which will help mileage. Keeping your vehicle tuned up properly will make a huge difference as well, I just cleaned the crap outta my MAF from the last outing (need a snorkel....ugh) and definitely noticed an improvement in smooth running and fuel mileage as well.

The more ply's generally (but not always) give a higher load rating and are made from a harder compound so they will last longer but ride rougher. The size of the tire also makes a difference in rating though, I've got E rated 245/75R16's that are 3100lbs max load and 10 ply, and my toyo's are C rated 6 ply's and 3000lbs max load rated.

Find a tire that you like, and run it. My vote for a rough terrain daily driver tire is the Goodyear Duratrac, but they only make limited larger sizes......

If your getting that good of mileage I should be able to get 20 mpg with 35's. But thanks for the explanation...I love my Toyo's in mud...but when Im not its an awful lot of weight to be rolling around...

i'm a big fan of TreadWright tires. i have a set of their AT's with at least 14,000 miles on them and they have close to 80% of their tread left! they seem to last forever on the lighter vehicles. very good traction in winter snow and ice and pretty good in the 6-8 inches of mud we get every spring. the AT's aren't too noisy, and the ride is not bad at all for a "10 ply" E rated tire. i just keep the psi around 28-30. i've been on 4 trips with them, each about 1,600+ miles. never an issue. never run hot at those psi's, don't worry about punctures, and can't beat the price and quality! i'd be running the tires in your link if mine wasn't more of a dd. just my $.02.

Mine kinda is a DD but why not go mud. I think I will be getting those tires when then come out. They sound perfect...harder rubber and more psi = goodish mileage, long lasting, good grip in snow and ice (which is like...50% of the time...and good price, what more could I want!