When you went to 35in tires what happened to your mpg and driving experience? Was planning on going with 35in tires to get the rpm's lower. Right now with 31in tires I am turning about 2000rpm for 70mph, about 1700 rpm at 60mph.
Can I improve on this or just go with 33in tires?

 

Last fall I put 2.5" leveling kit and 325/70/17 on my truck. Mileage was bad handling was really bad and it road like a tank. I couldn't take it any more and took the leveling kit out and traded the 325's for 285's and I'm very happy now Handels good rides much better and I got my mileage back. So bigger is not always better. I know a lot of guy's run the bigger tires and with the right set up it would be fine but after having both I'll stick with the stock height and the 285's.

 

My fuel efficiency improved with 35's, but my numbers are fudged because I did exhaust at the same time. My guess is that you'll lose about 1/2 to 1 mpg if you have a stick. More if it's an auto.

But it will *look* WAY worse because the odometer and speedometer will both be lying saying you are going slower and less distance than you really are.

As to handling, I didn't experience much difference, personally. But I went from a 33" E rated tire to a 35" (315/75r16) D rated tire and was only airing to 55psi in front and 45 in the rears. Air pressure has a HUGE effect on handling.

The main handling "issue" with big rubber is that since they are heavier, you sort of NEED a stiffer shock to keep them under control if you don't already have a stiff enough shock. A good example of a bad choice is a progressive shock like a sensa trac would be a "bad" shock for a big tire, since there is a short travel of soft dampening. This makes for a smooth ride-until big rubber causes a wobble that isn't adequately damped.