harrison14allen

I put a level and 285s on mine and the mileage went down about 1.5 mpg then 5-6 months later it dropped another 3. Still trying to figure that one out

Dburd2011

I have to agree with this. I put a 2.5 inch level in mine about a year ago and 33/12.5/20 cooper stt and I went from about 17.5 to 13. It is just do to the heavier and wider tire.

Dburd2011

winter blend fuel possibly? That seems kinda high for that though. I usually loose another 1.5-2 mpgs in winter.

harrison14allen

Nope. It went down during the summer and has never recovered

130428

isnt there something like 10 lbs of rotating mass = 100 lbs of static mass?
Even if the tires are only 10 lbs heavier each, that would be like having an extra 400 lbs in your bed at all times... + the additional rolling resistance due to the extra width and different tread, yeah, that sounds about right...

screamineagle

Sure makes sense to me. Also, a lift/level increases drag and resistance which will indeed effect mpg.

zx12-iowa

Yep adding a lift and big tires may look "cool" but in reality is usually a very poor decision as it reduces the trucks efficiency and adds to wear.

I learned this lesson two trucks ago and now know it's a very poor decision for someone who want to keep the trucks efficiency and maintain the trucks durability.

Adobe2X

What you are experiencing is called "rotational resistance" and is simply the heavier wheels and tires taking more effort from the engine to get and keep them rotating. To exaggerate this, think of beginning to roll a 10" tire and wheel with your hands, then doing the same thing with a 20" tire.....harder to stop too, which makes your brakes hotter and last fewer miles.
Simply moving to a heavier tire has the same effect as it takes more effort from the entire drivetrain. In addition, more unsprung weight can change how the shocks react and can result in a very different ride.

creteus

Ok so with the information I have received, I can safely say that my only option is to stick to the crappy goodyears that came on the truck. A set of Michelin tires weigh only one pound less than the nittos. If thats the case then yes this is a crappy truck. The city miles also dropped and this has nothing to do with a leveling kit. I got 10 Mpg pulling a 30 camper down the highway at 80mph with stock tires. Think about the wind shear involved in that. A 6000# box traveling at 80 mph.

By the way, for all the leveling kit folks that thinks mileage is lost because of that, think again. The leveling kit was on for 3 months prior to the tires and no mileage was lost.

Im not trying to bitch I just want to get some real solutions to whats going on. Mileage has been steady dropping.

Dburd2011

It's not just the weight of the tire. It is also the width. A 305 is a pretty wide tire, you could go to a narrower tire and still have the more aggressive look.