Need Help and Advice on SL vs E Tires

I'm convinced that is why. I got 11.4mpg from Amarillo to Albuquerque a couple weeks ago into a headwind. I almost stopped and bought a RAV4 hybrid in Albuquerque.

 

Wow 11.4mpg? That's like towing numbers

 

Yeah it was pretty awful. It was a sustained 30-40mph wind for 300 miles.

 

I have gotten 21+ in Florida, so it's not the elevation.

@DallasTRDPro what is your highway cruising speed? I seem to recall Texas having some ridiculously high speed limits.

 

Lets be honest it was 85mph because that was necessary to maintain speed with those winds, but you have to drive like an old lady to get 21mpg on the 4R.

 

You're correct! I have never seen 20 MPG at high speeds. I think you get lousy mileage because you drive fast. That's just the down side of living somewhere with higher speed limits.

I know I've mentioned this in other threads, but just an example... I got 21.4 MPG on my way up to some trails last summer, with a loaded roof rack, going 65 MPH. The same day, driving home at 80-85 I got 16. That's why I will always argue that cruising speed is the biggest factor in fuel economy.

Going 85 into a headwind will surely wreck your mileage.

 

I can't imagine driving 65 on the highway. I should just get out and walk.

 

The limit is 55-70 depending where you are here. If I'm not in a rush, I generally keep it under 70 because it seems to make the 4Runner happy. When I drive to Florida, you can bet I'll be going faster, though.

 

I guess the reason I drive faster is because I've had Jeeps that are downright scary at 70+ and this 4R is so smooth at 95+. The wind was the issue. When I went to Moab last year over the same path I got 18-19mpg.

 

Right. But in general your mileage will be lower at 80-90 than at 65. And, you're correct about the ride quality. It's almost disturbingly comfortable at 85.

 

Yeah I know it affects my 4R, but 65 to me is so slow that I would rather ride a bike and I hate bikes. I didnt buy the 4R for gas mileage. It just has me a little worried for the next 4 years with gas skyrocketing.

 

Me, too. I drive a lot, and high fuel prices could cramp my style.

I drive slow because it's more enjoyable to me. I only speed when I'm in a hurry.

 

It mainly concerns me on long trips. The alternative is to drive something I hate. I'm not there in my life yet, but I would buy a hybrid 4R tomorrow if that made one.

 

I hear you! Nothing like budgeting $600 for fuel on a vacation!

To be fair, I think I spent more on beer and bait!

 

Yeah I have a major trip to Wyoming, Idaho, Utah in the next year that I cringe at what it might cost.

 

That's the only reason I got the 285's, I walked in the dealership and saw a 4Runner lifted with 285's and said that's what I want. Gimme a white one.

Honestly at that time I had no clue between a spacer lift and a full suspension upgrade. Didn't learn about that until I started following the 4Runner forums.

I get about 17 mpg in the winter and 18 in the summer. That's combined mileage. I live at a higher elevation than Dallas though. I believe elevation makes a difference?

My 97 Tacoma 4x4 V6 was bone stock for the 21 years I owned it. Never even considered any modifications. It always got me where I wanted to go, even though it didn't have a rear locker or any fancy electronic traction aids. Ran Michelin AT LTX II's, got nearly a 100k miles out of a set. Of course it was a light truck.

 

I think the older you get...the less you care about going faster. I was once in hurry to go go go....after a while you start to think about it n realize you rushing your death...lol

 

Honestly, I was only worried that the drive train or wheel hubs etc couldn't handle all the extra weight. I added something like 20 lbs toward the outer edge of the arc via tires and that is a lot of force. Couple MPG's is no big deal to me.

 

Fuel prices seem to have leveled off, at least in my area (for now). The answer is there though, SLOW DOWN. You'll need to figure out which is more important to you driving fast, or worrying about fuel costs. RAV4's get pretty good mileage, I hear.

I rarely drive mine over 70, I shudder to think what would happen if I had to make sudden, evasive maneuvers at 80+ mph.

 

I usually drive 75 when I'm in a 80 zone. I've seen the aftermath of an SUV crashing and rolling in the ditch on the highway.

If I wanted to drive fast, I'd buy a Corvette.

 

+1

 

Well I bet the same outcome at 70 vs 80 in a sudden maneuver. I don't think I could ever drive a RAV4. If slowing down to 60 was a possibility then I would be all for it, but only if everyone was driving that speed. Prices have leveled off, but I'm positive they will spike sharply in the summer.

In my case having a pedal commander doesn't help with mileage.

 

I'm not sure what you're getting at here, but, yes I do care about tire weight. I'm not unrealistic with my expectations, but if I were looking at 2 different tires, and everything else was equal except that one was 10# lighter than the other, I would get the lighter one.

And who cares if I drive slower to save a little fuel?

 

I can see how it seems silly. In my case, I'm trying to get the most off-road capability possible without making it suck for everyday driving. I know there's always compromise.

 

Hey everyone, I just wanted to update you all on what I ended up doing. So I placed an order on the Open County A/T III E load. After going crossed eyed on the amount of research I’ve doing, I felt that, all though overkill, the E load will give me peace of mind. A lot of the trails out here in SoCal tend to have a lot of sharp rocks out in the desert, even the easy trails. Also, there is a lot of construction and development going on around me so I constantly get worried about nails. As a landscape photographer, I tend to go out in more remote locations so that also played a part in my decision. Before having the TRD Pro and Nitto Tires reinstalled on my Pro (dealership had installed nasty after market wheels) it had K02s installed that were E load. I didn’t notice a difference or rougher ride at all. The Terra Grapplers that are installed now, feel about the same to me. Anyways, I wanted to thank the community for your insight and knowledge. I know tires are a hot topic but when you spend any amount on money on the 4Runner, we all want to make sure we’re making the right decision.

 

Good choice! I think the extra strength is worth a slight loss of fuel economy. I have a set if those in C, and they've been very good!

Sorry for sidetracking the thread earlier.

 

I would’ve loved to go C load but getting a bigger tire is out of the question for me. I just didn’t want to modify the body or liner. 285s would’ve been awesome though. Slight loss in fuel economy is worth it for peace of mind. Plus, we drive a 4Runner, it’s a hog as it is lol.

No need to apologize. It was fun reading all the comments.

 

Usually the threads that go off topic are the most entertaining.

 

Just looking to revive this thread. I'm in the same boat as the op except I was looking at 255 75 17a lot of those are coming in SL so I'm unsure what to do. Does anybody know how many quote unquote plies the Continental terrain contact all terrains in an SL are?

 

I am also looking into 255/75/17's mounted on OEM SR5 wheels, but I'm going with BFG KO2's, load range C. These will be used for winter wheels/tires here in sw, PA.