Looking for better MPG

Grumpy Bear · August 26, 2025

10 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Keep up with the maintenance and slow down. That's all you can really do without spending money.

Big truck = safety

Education cost. This time the price of a lift kit and A/T tires. We have freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. He will pay for this...one way or the other. Pay for the correction not the continuing destruction.

Most of the items on my list are either free or part of a routine maintenance program. Alignment is routine, Air it free, slowing down cost a nothing. Even the tires could be part of normal maintenance. Change at the next required set. Removing a lift in the drive and spending on a routine alignment...a no brainer.

I run all the goodies out of every part of my truck. Ran the first set of tires 125K (example). Still on the OEM installed brakes at 190K. (Drive like you haven't any) Also free. Bad habit cost more than they save. Good habits are priceless and free.

A guy could adopt the attitude, Yes I made a mistake and now I'm stuck with it forever because it cost to reverse it? That would just be tossing good money after bad. :nonod:

swathdiver · August 26, 2025

8 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Education cost. This time the price of a lift kit and A/T tires. We have freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. He will pay for this...one way or the other. Pay for the correction not the continuing destruction.

Most of the items on my list are either free or part of a routine maintenance program. Alignment is routine, Air it free, slowing down cost a nothing. Even the tires could be part of normal maintenance. Change at the next required set. Removing a lift in the drive and spending on a routine alignment...a no brainer.

I run all the goodies out of every part of my truck. Ran the first set of tires 125K (example). Still on the OEM installed brakes at 190K. (Drive like you haven't any) Also free. Bad habit cost more than they save. Good habits are priceless and free.

A guy could adopt the attitude, Yes I made a mistake and now I'm stuck with it forever because it cost to reverse it? That would just be tossing good money after bad.

I agree Marty.

One of my daughters wanted a lifted truck for her MRS degree, and now that she's engaged and about to start a family, I reckon that truck will be coming back to stock height someday to be more useful for a family. Less costly too! That degree cost her a lot of money in extra tires and repairs and maintenance! LOL

diyer2 · August 26, 2025

Well when I got my driver's license my dad told me a vehicle is the biggest money pit in your life and the worst investment. Accept that now.

swathdiver · August 26, 2025

50 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

Well when I got my driver's license my dad told me a vehicle is the biggest money pit in your life and the worst investment. Accept that now.

He wasn't married?

diyer2 · August 26, 2025

asilverblazer · August 26, 2025

13 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Education cost. This time the price of... A/T tires... Pay for the correction not the continuing destruction.

...Even the tires could be part of normal maintenance. Change at the next required set...

I run all the goodies out of every part of my truck. Ran the first set of tires 125K (example)...

A guy could adopt the attitude, Yes I made a mistake and now I'm stuck with it forever because it cost to reverse it? That would just be tossing good money after bad.

Speaking specifically about tires, depending on size and how aggressive they actually are makes the decision a bit more murky.

I omitted some of your content, not to change your meaning but to seek clarity on your suggestions.

I doubt there is measurable "destruction" using an A/T tire vs. generic P-Tire, assuming same size and load rating. Compared to a worst-case scenario being that he is using a larger size, very aggressive tread pattern plus heavier load rating such as an LT would result in the worst mpg and could result in additional wear and tear/maintenance. If this were the case, I doubt he would save money by trashing those tires and replacing them "pre-maturely", which seems to be what you are suggesting, and I would agree (Change at the next required set).

That seems to contradict your comment, "A guy could adopt the attitude, Yes I made a mistake and now I'm stuck with it forever because it cost to reverse it? That would just be tossing good money after bad."

Well, you're stuck with the tires for their lifetime, because it WOULD COST MORE to reverse it...

Grumpy Bear · August 27, 2025

12 hours ago, asilverblazer said:

I doubt there is measurable "destruction" using an A/T tire vs. generic P-Tire, assuming same size and load rating.

I'm going to assume you meant distinction and not destruction. (How many beers was that? LO(L)

We are going to disagree and that's fine. Data will be the final judge.

WHY? Because the stock size H/T tire, which I recommend, is much lighter, (31 V 33) smaller and physics will prevail over what either one of us thinks or believes. But you hang on to that belief.

I said what I said. Time will tell, right?

MikeBMW · August 27, 2025

35" BFG ATs with a 5.5" lift and best I can get, with a 91 octane tune is 20 MPG on my way to my Mom's on the highway. 70 MPH is the sweet spot but I need that raw egg under my pedal.
Around town, I'm lucky to get 12-15 MPG.
I think a stock 1500 4WD 5.3 is, according to Chevy, 16-22 MPG.

swathdiver · August 27, 2025

8 hours ago, MikeBMW said:

35" BFG ATs with a 5.5" lift and best I can get, with a 91 octane tune is 20 MPG on my way to my Mom's on the highway.

That's pretty good Mike!

My daughter complained about her gas mileage. One time we went to pick up an axle and I made her slow down and her mileage shot up into the mid teens from the single digits.

Edited August 27, 2025 by swathdiver

asilverblazer · August 27, 2025

10 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

I'm going to assume you meant distinction and not destruction. (How many beers was that? LO(L)

We are going to disagree and that's fine. Data will be the final judge.

WHY? Because the stock size H/T tire, which I recommend, is much lighter, (31 V 33) smaller and physics will prevail over what either one of us thinks or believes. But you hang on to that belief.

I said what I said. Time will tell, right?

I was referring to your use of the word destruction.

"Education cost. This time the price of a lift kit and A/T tires. We have freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. He will pay for this...one way or the other. Pay for the correction not the continuing destruction."

I'm not disagreeing that a larger tire will increase wear and tear (destruction?). I'm trying to understand if you are suggesting he prematurely swap out the tires for factory size. We know it will save money at the pump, but will it result in overall savings to compensate for the price of the tire swap?

We also don't know how premature that swap might be, which is critical to determine the savings above.

My point is that swapping out the tires that are otherwise in good condition with a significant portion of their life left wouldn't save money when you take into account the cost of the swap. Better mpgs, less wear and tear - yes. More money - not for awhile.

"I made a mistake and now I'm stuck with it forever because it cost to reverse it?"

Yes, it does cost to reverse it, a lot usually (tires).

jwhjr · August 27, 2025

56 minutes ago, asilverblazer said:

I was referring to your use of the word destruction.

"Education cost. This time the price of a lift kit and A/T tires. We have freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. He will pay for this...one way or the other. Pay for the correction not the continuing destruction."

I'm not disagreeing that a larger tire will increase wear and tear (destruction?). I'm trying to understand if you are suggesting he prematurely swap out the tires for factory size. We know it will save money at the pump, but will it result in overall savings to compensate for the price of the tire swap?

We also don't know how premature that swap might be, which is critical to determine the savings above.

My point is that swapping out the tires that are otherwise in good condition with a significant portion of their life left wouldn't save money when you take into account the cost of the swap. Better mpgs, less wear and tear - yes. More money - not for awhile.

"I made a mistake and now I'm stuck with it forever because it cost to reverse it?"

Yes, it does cost to reverse it, a lot usually (tires).

Usually not worth explaining yourself. You'll get a response with a lot of words that say nothing. Good luck.

Grumpy Bear · August 28, 2025

On 8/27/2025 at 11:41 AM, asilverblazer said:

I was referring to your use of the word destruction.

"Education cost. This time the price of a lift kit and A/T tires. We have freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. He will pay for this...one way or the other. Pay for the correction not the continuing destruction."

I'm not disagreeing that a larger tire will increase wear and tear (destruction?). I'm trying to understand if you are suggesting he prematurely swap out the tires for factory size.

Ah, I missed that. I meant destruction of fuel economy. Word clumsy it seems.

No, I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting that when the current set have expired to make a more fuel friendly choice.

I think we are actually on the same page and even in the same book.

Paragraph under the one you quoted:

[quoting me] Most of the items on my list are either free or part of a routine maintenance program. Alignment is routine, Air it free, slowing down cost a nothing. Even the tires could be part of normal maintenance. Change at the next required set. Removing a lift in the drive and spending on a routine alignment...a no brainer. [close quote]

Understand? Normal maintenance, right? At tire life end.

Edited August 31, 2025 by Grumpy Bear