Hikecol7

I have been happy with the stock Michelin's as far as fuel economy and tire longevity. However, I drive the mountain passes alot in Colorado and they dont work as well in the snow as I would like. I am looking at buying a different set of tires that I will run fall through early spring. My question is the following: what size do you recommend for looks and fuel economy? If I run a slightly larger tire what size will fit without a lift kit without rubbing? Also, if I run a slightly larger tire, will I lose mpg or gain? Is there a brand that you recommend that will not wear out overnight? I cannot telll from many of the threads I have read. Thanks for your input?

2007.5, QC, 4x4, 6sp auto, mineral gray

98whitelightnin

The nitto terra grapplers in a 305/70/17 look good and have pretty good tread life. They are 10 ply are just a little taller than a 33.

2whistlers

BFG AT K/O work really good in snow. I like my mastercraft courser c/t's but haven't had them in the snow yet. They are a lot cheaper than BFG's, though.

Texasimport

I live 15 minutes from you and spend lots of time on the same mountain roads as you. I put BFG AT KO 315/70R/17s and with out having reset yet for the bigger tires, 34K miles ago. They handle well on and off road summer and winter in my opinion.

The over head showed 20.1 for a trip this past weekend to Colorado springs and Cripple creek. 75/80 on the hwy both ways. Yes the over head lies but with the 315s up from stockers it is reading lower than it should too. . . so. . . .it might not be too far off right now. Smarty JR arrives today so more power and finally get to set it for my tires.

Headed up to fill Elk tags this weekend. Just in time for the first real snow.

DUKFVR

You will lose mpg with bigger tires. With 315/17 BFG AT's I lost about 1 1/2 to 2 mpg. That is adjusted for the bigger tires. With my Toyo M/T's it is right at a 2 mpg loss.

SundayMoney

When I went to 285/70/17s,I didn't notice any difference in mileage. If there was a difference it was so small I didn't see it in my calculations.

The 285s were a semi-aggressive all terrain.

I went with 295/70/17s (Toyo MTs) a couple weeks back. This time they're a mud terrain that weigh about 2x what the stock Michelins did. With the aggressive,heavy tires I lost 1 mpg.

RamWheelsBy4

The bigger the tire both height and width will cost you mileage, no way around it. How much is dependent on how big and driving habits.

You should be able to get a stock size or very close AT/MT in a number of brands that should help in winter/snow/ice and not cost you much if any mileage.

booman70

I think my highway mileage is a little better with the 315s the engine runs about 300rpms less @ highway speeds but I have 4.10s

Ridgeman

When I switched from the stock michelins to Toyo 285/70/17 AT's I lost 1 MPG average. Hand calculated and miles corrected for larger tires. Heavier tire, wider track, more agressive tread , more friction means less MPG.

Mlucas

^x2. I have 35-12.5 R20's & noticed a loss of 2mpg. Lower rpms do not necessarly add up to less fuel consumed-only fewer turns of the crank. the truck will fuel enought to do what your right foot tells it to.

way up north

My truck is comming up on 60,000km on the original michelins. Your right, they are not much good in snow even with 4X4. If it's real cold any tire will grip the packed snow, but when it starts to get mild (relative term) forget it.
I'm getting ready to put some silent armor's on. They say they are pretty good in snow. Actually I'm gonna put on 235/80/17's and pump 80 PSI in them. I'm hoping for better MPG's from the pressure and narrowness and better traction from the narrower tire.
I should also add that I got myself convinced that the narrow tires will give the truck a RETRO look. Why not go retro....hell in Australia even boomerangs are comming back.

vcoyle

So regardless of 4.10 or 3.73 if you go with bigger tires you will lose mileage?

GraveDigger1

unless you make more power to turn em. Im runnin 35's with 3.73s and squeeze out 24 mpg if I try but I average 18-20mpg. Ill be stepping up to 37s after these are worn

Mlucas

I can't even come close to your MPG's, but my thoughts on mileage are simply based on the power/energy to move something down the road.

The bigger your tires are-the greater the inertia they have-and the more energy they take to rotate at your desired speed. You can compensate for that with a different gear ratio-but in the end, you are still trying to propel something that has a greater inertia down the road. Reducing the engine RPMs is not the saving grace-since the power to drive down the road comes from the fuel-and if you need more power to move-you will use more fuel....simple.

Tires do have some effect on mileage-but in my experience-you only see the benefits if you are driving a constant speed with minimum load.
The more you change your speed-requres more fuel than stock tires.
The more stop & go driving you do-requires more fuel than stock tires.

booman70

If your doing a lot of highway mileage it should be a little better. Your city mileage will suffer a little to get the bigger tires going every time you stop