Fuel Max Tires Debate

[MTB]

Yesterday at lunch I got the dreaded phone call from the wife.

 

" I drove home for lunch and there was a wop-wop sound coming from the right rear. Then a loud pop and the tire sensor thing showed up on the dash and I watched the pressure drop to 1psi as I came into Hallsville. I just made it to the house."

 

She drives a 2013 Malibu Eco LTZ. The car had the Goodyear Fuel Max tires on it and by driving on the sidewall past a service station to the house she ruined the tire. No jack, no spare tire, just an air compressor and a can of sealant... I had to call the service station to come to repair it. The repair was a plug and air to get it where it would stay inflated.

 

After looking at the mileage and all the tires it appeared to me that now, right now, was the best time to replace them. 34K miles the Goodyears' were gone. We called and searched all over the city closest to us to find a replacement set. My wife really wanted to fuel max tire, me not so much. We could not find it or comparable fuel savings tire in stock at any location in Longview. Tire size was P225/55R17 95H

 

We ended up at Sams where we started and bought BFGoodrich P225/55R17 97T. Note that there was about a 300 dollar swing and a 24 hour wait for the fuel savers.

 

How much MPG did we give up by buying these instead of the fuel savings tires?

 

Those of you that have swapped out the Fuel Saver tires on your 2014, and stayed roughly the same size have you seen a drop in MPG?

[bdbake01]

I'm not convinced that u save anything at all with today's tire technology. You can save MUCH more by just paying attention to how you drive.

[TxTruckMan]

I have no direct experience with them, but I'd be shocked if there was more than a 0.5 mpg difference. I read an article in C&D a while back where they performed some tests between two different model year BMWs that had different tires and there was little difference in mpg. The biggest difference was in performance and ride. The rubber compound in MPG tires is very hard and stiff, which gives a stiffer ride and provides worse traction. The stopping distance of the MPG tires was something like 20 more feet at 70 mph. I would NOT get them for that single reason right there.

[RadoRage]

I think proper tire pressure is paramount when talking about wheel/tire MPG savings. IMHO these fuel efficient tire have very little real world savings. But thats just my non-expert, armchair analysis.

[KARNUT]

I run 30PSI in back and 32 in the front for the ride comfort, if I was that worried about fuel mileage I get a smaller truck or car. At that I get 17MPG in town and 21 on the HWY, 2 MPG less on E85.

[MTB]

From my Pinewood derby days I know that wheels and tires that weigh less require less force to get rolling and to keep rolling. The only way in my mind that a Fuel saver tire can do so is by by reducing weight. Yet none of the tire manufacturers report the weight of a tire.

[ShotgunZ71]

From my Pinewood derby days I know that wheels and tires that weigh less require less force to get rolling and to keep rolling. The only way in my mind that a Fuel saver tire can do so is by by reducing weight. Yet none of the tire manufacturers report the weight of a tire.

Most tire companies do post the weight of a tire on their website. Just have to dig around the specs/sizes area. Tirerack.com also usually has weights listed for most tires.

 

For example, the 20" Continental tires I have on my truck are said to be 38.2 lbs each on their website.

[Spurshot]

If MPG is your only concern, add a couple psi and you'll be ahead.

[Isriam]

I run 30PSI in back and 32 in the front for the ride comfort, if I was that worried about fuel mileage I get a smaller truck or car. At that I get 17MPG in town and 21 on the HWY, 2 MPG less on E85.

 

he's talking about his wifes malibu and if anyone had seen an increase in fuel max tires in general. I don't think he's going to add them to his truck.

[KARNUT]

he's talking about his wifes malibu and if anyone had seen an increase in fuel max tires in general. I don't think he's going to add them to his truck.

Check out his last sentence, reads like he was asking about a truck in a truck forum. Same goes for a car I would buy the car that gets the mileage I want and run a little lower on air for the best ride I could get. High mileage tires are mostly pumped up hard riding tires.

[TxTruckMan]

The high-mileage, high-efficiency tires have nothing to do with PSI - it's all about the rubber compound. It's harder and stiffer to reduce energy loss from sidewall flex and reduce tread wear. That equates to better fuel efficiency and tread life, but worse traction and comfort.

[Isriam]

Check out his last sentence, reads like he was asking about a truck in a truck forum. Same goes for a car I would buy the car that gets the mileage I want and run a little lower on air for the best ride I could get. High mileage tires are mostly pumped up hard riding tires.

 

I was more focused on this question "How much MPG did we give up by buying these instead of the fuel savings tires?" and I believe he isn't looking to add them on his truck, but just looking for experience in general to validate the purchase on his malibu of non fuel max tires.

[KARNUT]

Same difference LOL , the point was comfort for me anyway.

[Isriam]

Same difference LOL , the point was comfort for me anyway.

 

fuel max tires are as much a gimmick as cleaning the injectors at the dealership every 25k miles. there are always better/cheaper ways to do something but unsuspecting consumers are willing to throw cash at anything. cough cough performance chips....

[KARNUT]

 

fuel max tires are as much a gimmick as cleaning the injectors at the dealership every 25k miles. there are always better/cheaper ways to do something but unsuspecting consumers are willing to throw cash at anything. cough cough performance chips....

I was responding to Mr Yukon and got yours instead but your last point is on the mark. But some people are going to take the chip point to mean performance tuning which are different animals.