Tire pressure and MPG

[MichaelM]

I am trying to get a better idea of how much psi I should run to optimize my highway gas mileage.
So....
What size tires are you running?
What psi for highway driving?
And how many MPG?

For me, 265/70/17. 32 psi (right now). 17 +- MPG fairly aggressive driving and pretty close to stock.

 

[TThomas]

I run 35 psi all the way around and towing my trailer I get about 18-19 doing 68-70mph...

 

[Flyer]

265-65-17, 32-34 psi, 17.5-20.2 mpg on my V8 SR5 4x4

 

[V8Limited4wd]

stock, 38psi, 19-21mpg highway

 

[PJS]

Maybe I've got something really wrong going on with my truck or people are posting what the console computer MPG tells them (as opposed to calculating MPG using the odometer and gallons to fill up). I do the latter every time I fill up and I typically burn 16-18 gals to drive 250-280 miles. The console average MPG states ~ 20 MPG but that is obviously way off.

I have a stock '06 SR5 V6 4X4 running 265/65/17 Yoko HT/S w/ ~ 5k on them (Very disappointing - they are not good in snow and like to hydroplane. I actually liked my factory 840 Duelers better) and drive fairly aggressively with a mix of city/highway miles and I have consistently averaged 16-17 MPG since I bought it in '08 with the stock Bridgestones and 40k on the odometer (currently ~65k running 33 psi). I live in snow country and obviously take a hit if I use 4wd - which I unfortunately have to use more with the Yokos but I am not including in the numbers above.

Using my experience - I find it very hard to believe the mileages many post here. Some must be stating the console computer MPG. Could posters state whether their numbers are calculated or from the console computer? :cry2:

 

[V8Limited4wd]

calculated by miles driven/gallons filled. computer shows 21-23mpg and I can get about 415-430 miles on one tank. this is only all highway of course.

 

[12guns]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but won't each different type of tire need to be inflated to a certian PSI in order to wear properly? I keep reading about PSI and how it affects MPG but haven't ready anywhere about even wear. Sure you can boost your MPG by adding 6-8 PSI, but your tire will wear out in the middle fast. I guess there maybe a window where the tire will still wear ok, but I've always been told to keep the PSI where the tire wears even, not where you get better MPG.

 

[V8Limited4wd]

mine have worn evenly, have 64k miles on two of them, 20k on the other two (mich xterrain). If you go way over the recommended psi, then yes you will risk uneven wear. I am only 3psi above that value and have been since 2004.

 

[TRADICLES]

Mpg

265-65-17, 32-34 psi, 17.5-20.2 mpg on my V8 SR5 4x4

265/65/17 Pirelli Scorpion ATR.Mostly highway with city mixed in avg. 16-18.7 MPG.Just purchased Michelins LTX M/S2 265/65/17 from Discount tite direct for great price from Ray.Hoping for a little better MPG and snow/ice traction.I get 25 MPG if i do 63 on long trips.I drive very Agressive so i don't often go below 70 mph.

 

[Flyer]

I never go by what the console says. This is actually my first vehicle with that feature. I hand-calculate MPG on every tank, and have done so for years. My 4R is stock and though I go 5-8 MPH over the speed limit on the highway and 5 over in the city, I accelerate and brake carefully and coast to stops as much as can be done reasonably. I'm definitely a conservative driver....almost grandma like except that I go a few over the speed limit.

 

[MichaelM]

I never go by what the console says. This is actually my first vehicle with that feature. I hand-calculate MPG on every tank, and have done so for years. My 4R is stock and though I go 5-8 MPH over the speed limit on the highway and 5 over in the city, I accelerate and brake carefully and coast to stops as much as can be done reasonably. I'm definitely a conservative driver....almost grandma like except that I go a few over the speed limit.

Anyone going by what the console says is being fooled.

 

[MichaelM]

Using my experience - I find it very hard to believe the mileages many post here. They must be stating the console computer MPG. Could posters state whether their numbers are calculated or from the console computer? :cry2:

Me too. Sometimes my console says 16 on the highway. And I am basically stock 2wd

 

[2004TR4-SR5]

calculated by miles driven/gallons filled. computer shows 21-23mpg and I can get about 415-430 miles on one tank. this is only all highway of course.

how the hell are you getting over 400 miles on a full tank with a V8??? i have a V6 and i drive the highway too and i get like maybe 350 miles...same year too

 

[PJS]

Obviously differences in driving style have the greatest impact on MPG - but reading how some (not necessarily in this thread) V8 4WD trucks are getting ~ 16-33% higher mpg than a V6 4WD makes me wonder what the he11 could be going on with my 4R. I have done all the scheduled maintenance milestone work since I got it, and I bought it Certified from a dealer so I assume they verified the previous owner did so as well. Average mpg is essentially unchanged from the day I bought it.

Only things I can think of are maybe the plugs weren't replaced at 30k or I have a seized caliper. I haven't touched the brakes since I bought it, so I'm gonna have to check those and the plugs. Any ways to spot a bad caliper?

Funny thing is that I had a '99 V6 Taco (crushed due to the rust recall) that got the same mileage. I figured i was doing OK because my 4R is obviously a lot heavier and is even less aerodynamic than the pickup.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but won't each different type of tire need to be inflated to a certian PSI in order to wear properly? I keep reading about PSI and how it affects MPG but haven't ready anywhere about even wear. Sure you can boost your MPG by adding 6-8 PSI, but your tire will wear out in the middle fast. I guess there maybe a window where the tire will still wear ok, That's been my experience, there's generally a 3-6psi range that has an absolutely minimal impact on wear. but I've always been told to keep the PSI where the tire wears even, not where you get better MPG.

:iagree: 100%

Only things I can think of are maybe the plugs weren't replaced at 30k or I have a seized caliper. I haven't touched the brakes since I bought it, so I'm gonna have to check those and the plugs. Any ways to spot a bad caliper?

When you park the vehicle touch the front rims. They should feel very similar in temperature. If one is appreciably hotter have the calipers checked. NOTE: That method won't help much if you have a one-in-a-million 'both calipers stuck and dragging exactly the same'.


Michael, for me my Toyo 265/70/17 H/T's seem to have a very even contact, ride smoothly etc. at 34psi. Many with the 265/70 Revo's in the same size run around 37-38psi with good results but that's a 44psi max psi tire. 19.0mpg, hand calculated, seems to be my avg. It does vary seasonally from 17.5-20.5mpg. I recently went from a 255/75 to a 265/70 with an easier rolling tread design and lost .5mpg. The 255's liked about 35-37psi.


I think if max MPG was the goal a tire like tenguns chose, a 235/80/17 in an A/S tread might be the answer.
:cheers:

 

[djj1973]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but won't each different type of tire need to be inflated to a certian PSI in order to wear properly? I keep reading about PSI and how it affects MPG but haven't ready anywhere about even wear. Sure you can boost your MPG by adding 6-8 PSI, but your tire will wear out in the middle fast. I guess there maybe a window where the tire will still wear ok, but I've always been told to keep the PSI where the tire wears even, not where you get better MPG.

I agree.

I go by the recommended psi from Toyota. In my case is 32 psi. I have the stock size of 265 70 16's in the Michelin LTX AT2's. Although the tire does say max psi is 44 psi. The vehicle manufacturer gives you a recommended psi for best handling, wear, and ride based on the vehicle your driving. I also check my psi every weekend. My tires wear perfectly.

 

[Flyer]

Evidently, you need lessons in how to drive like a grandma.:driving:

Obviously differences in driving style have the greatest impact on MPG - but reading how some (not necessarily in this thread) V8 4WD trucks are getting ~ 16-33% higher mpg than a V6 4WD makes me wonder what the he11 could be going on with my 4R. I have done all the scheduled maintenance milestone work since I got it, and I bought it Certified from a dealer so I assume they verified the previous owner did so as well. Average mpg is essentially unchanged from the day I bought it.

Only things I can think of are maybe the plugs weren't replaced at 30k or I have a seized caliper. I haven't touched the brakes since I bought it, so I'm gonna have to check those and the plugs. Any ways to spot a bad caliper?

Funny thing is that I had a '99 V6 Taco (crushed due to the rust recall) that got the same mileage. I figured i was doing OK because my 4R is obviously a lot heavier and is even less aerodynamic than the pickup.

 

[Uneek]

Stock size, 38psi. 10-15% city, the rest of it is highway around 70-75mph. Getting 19-20 mpg on regular.