New Truck tires

[red-beard]

Just change out the tires on the F250 from the OEM tires. New ones are Michelin LTX M/S2. Highway mileage went from 19 to 22! Amazing difference. That is about 15-16% increase in mileage.

Around town is still quite bad.

[porsche4life]

Those michelins will dry rot before you wear them down too. Tread lasts for ever!

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Those michelins will dry rot before you wear them down too. Tread lasts for ever!

YUP! I put my third set of them on my then 160k mile old 2002 Silverado. I told my wife that they might outlast the truck! Truck now has 200,100 miles on it. Tires are 1/2 worn. I wonder if the truck will die or the tires will die first.

[vash]

what were the old tires? i put the same michelins on my truck, the day after i bought the truck. no datum to compare to.

sad i get the same 22mpg with a tacoma!

[red-beard]

Continental ContiTrac TR

@3.59/gal, the tires totally pay for themselves in fuel in 39K.

The price difference between the ContiTrac and the Michelin was $38/tire. The price difference is paid for in 5900 miles of driving.

[kaisen]

How are you checking mileage? GPS or odometer?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by kaisen

How are you checking mileage? GPS or odometer?

Both. I use a Bluetooth dongle connected to the ODB-II port with an Android Tablet to check instantaneous miles/gallon which is GPS based. I also use the mpg system that is built in which is average. They match pretty well.

[kaisen]

I only ask because a truck tire can be 15/32 tread depth. So wearing down to 4/32 can be a 22/32 inch difference in overall height/diameter. There are fewer revolutions per mile with the new tires than the old. So there can be a real difference in fuel economy with new tires (even same brand, just new).....like an effective gearing change.

If you're calculating fuel economy by resetting your GPS tracking, that's accurate. Using your odometer? Not accurate.

YMMV

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I only ask because a truck tire can be 15/32 tread depth. So wearing down to 4/32 can be a 22/32 inch difference in overall height/diameter. There are fewer revolutions per mile with the new tires than the old. So there can be a real difference in fuel economy with new tires (even same brand, just new).....like an effective gearing change.

If you're calculating fuel economy by resetting your GPS tracking, that's accurate. Using your odometer? Not accurate.

YMMV

Larger diameter wheels would lead to fewer miles recorded and lower MPG. The OD on the tires is around 33.4". Tread depth is 12/32. So losing 24/32 would mean a final OD of 32.65". That is a 2% difference if you use the full tread.

The GPS reading of speed vs. the ODB-II speed reading reading is also pretty close. The actual speedometer display guage adds another inaccuracy into things. I'm not using that. My old BMW had about an 8% high speed reading on the guage, but the ODB-II speed (A scanner hooked up) was very close to GPS.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Larger diameter wheels would lead to fewer miles recorded and lower MPG. The OD on the tires is around 33.4". Tread depth is 12/32. So losing 24/32 would mean a final OD of 32.65". That is a 2% difference if you use the full tread.

The GPS reading of speed vs. the ODB-II speed reading reading is also pretty close. The actual speedometer display guage adds another inaccuracy into things. I'm not using that. My old BMW had about an 8% high speed reading on the guage, but the ODB-II speed (A scanner hooked up) was very close to GPS.

OBD2 speed could be exactly as inaccurate as the gauge....same inputs
GPS is more accurate because it isn't doing any math based on gearing, tire size, etc.

But you're right about the measurements and the 2%.... it's just a difference that your car cannot account for. Just pointing it out.

Some people can't understand why different tires make a difference in speed or fuel use.

Rolling resistance can make a big difference. Sounds like the LTX M/S2 does a good job reducing it.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by kaisen

OBD2 speed could be exactly as inaccurate as the gauge....same inputs
GPS is more accurate because it isn't doing any math based on gearing, tire size, etc.

But you're right about the measurements and the 2%.... it's just a difference that your car cannot account for. Just pointing it out.

Some people can't understand why different tires make a difference in speed or fuel use.

You got that right!

The contract guy in the cube across from me in San Diego was going to make a radical change in wheel and tire size. I asked him what he was doing to compensate in the speedometer. He had no idea it was going to screw up the reading. He called the wheel/tire place and they confirmed it would change the reading and no they could not adjust his speedo.

Originally Posted by kaisen

Rolling resistance can make a big difference. Sounds like the LTX M/S2 does a good job reducing it.

Yep, that is what I see. Seems a bit stiffer sidewall. I definitely like the increased mileage.

While I've got you here, how old do you have to get with an F250 Diesel before you get under $10K? My neice wants one in SoCal. She is towing a double horse trailer.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

While I've got you here, how old do you have to get with an F250 Diesel before you get under $10K? My neice wants one in SoCal. She is towing a double horse trailer.

In SoCal? They're all over the boards. You can find some high-mile 6.0s under $10K, but mostly they're going to be 1995-1997 or some higher mile 1999-2002s. Crew Cabs are always the most expensive, but there doesn't seem to be a difference between regular cab and Super cab. 4x4 is more. Dually can be less, depending.

It's really hit and miss. You just have to keep looking and stumble across the right deal. I've had good luck finding good deals on big trucks in SoCal.

Texas is still ground zero for the sheer number of 3/4-up diesel trucks

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by red-beard

While I've got you here, how old do you have to get with an F250 Diesel before you get under $10K? My neice wants one in SoCal. She is towing a double horse trailer.

Do NOT get a 6.0 engine, especially the early ones! The 7.3 was a lot better engine even with a bit of mileage.

For $10k you are close to a 2002-3 Dodge Cummins so the power stroke should be a bit less...

Also make sure you are running high pressure in the tires. Running 65-70 in mine and makes a world of difference in the mileage and feel.

Joe A

[kaisen]

2005 Ford F350 Diesel Crew Cab

2005 F250 Crewcab Diesel 2wd. 180K miles. Not fancy. 6.0L with 6 speed auto. $7500


FORD F250 XLT TURBO DIESEL 1996

1996 F250 Supercab Diesel 2wd. 187K miles. XLT. New auto trans. $5400

[kaisen]

2004 Ford F350 4X4 Diesel Crew Cab

2004 F250 Crewcab 4x4 Diesel. 6.0 auto. 119K miles $10900

[kaisen]

1996 Dodge Ram 2500

1996 Dodge 2500 Reg Cab 2wd. Cummins with 40K miles. $8500

[kaisen]

2000 DODGE TRUCK 2500 DIESEL LOW MILES

2000 Dodge 2500 Reg Cab 2wd Sport. Cummins with 92K miles, Michelins. $7800

[Tobra]

Those LTX tires have been great on my wife's SUV. She is coming up on time to get new ones. Not worn out, timed out.

[Evans, Marv]

I had the Michelin LTX M/S tires on my '03 7.3L PSD (Super Cab/4WD) & got mid 18mpg to low 19 mpg at a constant 70mph highway. Going to the east of here up to 3,500 ft. elevation & back down, 85 miles round trip was 15 to 16 mpg and 14.5 mpg in town. But, they didn't have any traction when I got on dirt, which I had to do once in a while. I put a tire with more agressive tread on and now get a steady 14.5 combined and 17.2 freeway. I'm not sure I believe people when they talk about getting 20+ mpg and some Dodge guys claim mid 20's. Maybe it's because mine is 4WD, but I haven't talked to anyone personally who says they get that kind of mileage. If you do, more power to you.

[VincentVega]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm looking for tires and will look into these. Like most my truck in on the road 95% of the time. But, the few times a year I actually need the 4wd it needs to work. Snow/ice, pulling out a boat on a wet ramp, firewood in a field.... wonder if these tires are up to that.