Ok guys in the process of buying some new tires tomorrow. Getting some d rated nitto terra grapplers in 285/75/16. I currently have 285 e rated kenda klevar m/ts they have been killing my performance and mpgs coming in at a hefty 66lbs a piece. The nittos I'm getting are just a tad over 52lbs. I'm curious how big a difference I can expect performance and mpg wise with these tires. Wasn't sure if anyone on the forum has done anything g similar to reduce their tire weight without sacrificing tire size. Just want to know if it's gonna be drastic or not. Any input would help
Lighter tires performance/mpg?
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MyHigh
New member
Not same size tire, I run a 265/70/17.
Americas tire accidentally gave me E rated when I want C rated. The difference was 6 pounds. It was a night and day difference for me. Now FYI, I have a 5-speed and 4:10 gears. I know for a fact it will help you, I don't remember the weight of each tire, I just remember the 6 pound difference. I can look it up if you need, tires are the GY duratracs.
Edit : just verified weight, E's=50 & C's=44
Americas tire accidentally gave me E rated when I want C rated. The difference was 6 pounds. It was a night and day difference for me. Now FYI, I have a 5-speed and 4:10 gears. I know for a fact it will help you, I don't remember the weight of each tire, I just remember the 6 pound difference. I can look it up if you need, tires are the GY duratracs.
Edit : just verified weight, E's=50 & C's=44
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Ok well that's for sure awesome to hear, my difference will be more than double that not to mention that the new tire will have less rolling resistance since it's an a/t instead of an m/t. So how did you find out they gave you erated tires? Got worse acceleration and mpgs?
MyHigh
New member
Well I went from a used set of 255/75/17 BFG's, I only had those for 2 months till I got the duratracs. Driving around town I was having to downshift for small hills, had poor acceleration, and just plain had to hold gears longer then normal. Then again I wasn't quite sure what normal was because my previous tires were the used BFG and before that was a 265/75/16 tire so from everything I knew the 265/70/17 were close to the original 16's, and I new what my performance was with those cause I had them for about a year. Anyways, I just thought it was the duratracs, right? More aggressive. Then I filled up and realized I dropped from an average of 19-20 to 15-17 and just could not believe it. I decided to double check after running around for two weeks and saw they were E's, sure enough all 4 tires were E's.
Took it back showed them the paperwork that said they sold me C's and had them change it. Now I get average 18-19 which is more acceptable, and my performance (lol) was back to normal.
I will no longer go to Americas tire, after working at a shop in high school and wholesaling GY's for 2 years I was amazed at the amount of bullcrap they tried to feed me while I waited for 2 hours so they could balance my tires. They have semi-knowledgable salesmen and just plain dumb installers, it took all I could to not walk in the shop and show them how to properly mount and balance a tire!
Sorry for whoever works for them but it is what it is.
Took it back showed them the paperwork that said they sold me C's and had them change it. Now I get average 18-19 which is more acceptable, and my performance (lol) was back to normal.
I will no longer go to Americas tire, after working at a shop in high school and wholesaling GY's for 2 years I was amazed at the amount of bullcrap they tried to feed me while I waited for 2 hours so they could balance my tires. They have semi-knowledgable salesmen and just plain dumb installers, it took all I could to not walk in the shop and show them how to properly mount and balance a tire!
Sorry for whoever works for them but it is what it is.
runnyrunnerton
New member
your dealing with un sprung weight. In this area ounces matter as the rotation of the tire at speed increases its mass. When i am shopping for tires, weight is the number two factor (besides looks, and yes looks matter in my weekend fun vehicle) but for my DD weight is critical. MPG's will be affected in a positive way but it will not be as substantial as steering wheel control over bumps, a pile of vibration reduction in the cab and a virtual plethora of better braking. If mpgs are a big factor with you and your willing to sacrifice some on road handling, go the tall skinny route. might save you a mpg.
