Tire rec. for better mpg

[VBODCC]

My stock V3500/350tbi/465/205/D60/14ff/4.56's currently runs on old 33/12.5R16.5 wildcat ext's (about 30" tall) and needs new tires.

What tires have you had an mpg improvement with? I'm thinking taller, skinnier, stiffer, although most driving is on road, it rarely sees 65+ mph and when in 4x4, mostly dry dusty powerline roads a couple times a year. Would lighter rims also help? My curb wt. is 6k, max loaded is about 2500k in the box & pulling 5K. Usually it runs around loaded with 2k or less in the box. It's more of a farm rig than a DD. Recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[sweetk30]

less spinning weight will help yes.

skinny tire will help yes.

and a tire without a lot of open tread blocks will roll better than say a bogger compared to a all season tire.

and it you like that size hight and want skinny try looking at 255/85/16 or 285/75/16 the same basic hight but skinny compared to your 12.50 wide.

 

[Jessie James]

Thinner, lighter, and harder rubber will all help you. The tires on my fathers Prius are rock hard, but he changed them and lost 10mpg because he got really soft tires and did not realize it. Proper gearing can also help. Believe it or not, I would bet GM made those trucks get the best MPG they could based on the tires and gears and engine RPM at certain speeds. So I would try to get back to that sweet spot if I could.

 

[trustyrusty]

If you like the look of your 33's I think they(don't remember mfg.) make a 33x10.50.
That should drop your rolling resistance. I have seen them in 15" but not sure about the 16.5".
Better gas mileage is going to hurt your offroad ability to some degree.

Just reread your post...Farm rig not DD? not much is going to improve your mileage as stop and go is what really kills it.
Best bet,,,if you have the $$$$ is to switch her over to diesel, and start harvesting some corn

 

[AJMBLAZER]

4.56's + 465 trans + really short 33's = you're overspeeding that motor everywhere you go. There's a lot of your problem.

 

[VBODCC]

4.56's + 465 trans + really short 33's = you're overspeeding that motor everywhere you go. There's a lot of your problem.

Yep, at 65mph it's cranking just over 3k rpm. I'm still researching tire sizes, heights, treads...but it's a universe of info out there not to mention mfg's change model/designs every couple years adding to the ether. That's why I'm asking for someone with 1st hand knowledge of what tire worked for them. I'm willing to go to different rim width/heights and even put up to a 4" lift on the truck. An auto w/OD would be nice but I really like the simplicity of this drive-train.

Thanks all for your input, any more?

 

[dhcomp]

If you like the look of your 33's I think they(don't remember mfg.) make a 33x10.50.
That should drop your rolling resistance. I have seen them in 15" but not sure about the 16.5".
Better gas mileage is going to hurt your offroad ability to some degree.

Just reread your post...Farm rig not DD? not much is going to improve your mileage as stop and go is what really kills it.
Best bet,,,if you have the $$$$ is to switch her over to diesel, and start harvesting some corn

Id go narrower than 10.50's. Remember the width of the factory 235/85's....

Tall, narrow, and mellow tread pattern is the name of the game. 22.5" semi style rims/tires would be ideal, but $$$

 

[OffRoad]

you said you have a v3500, so i'm figuring it's a a 91.

stock size for that year is listed as a 245/75 R16.

so maybe go back to that. but really your driving a tank, 10 mpg would be as much as i'd expect to see.

with the 4.56 gears, you could jump up to 37" humveee tires. they run fine on 16.5 stock wheels.

or

go get some 19.5 wheels off a bread van, so they'll be 8 bolt. then buy some heavy duty tires.

 

[79rustyk10]

I would go to a 16" wheel and get something in the 285 range. its an old 1 ton without overdrive, powered by a TBI 350, Im guessing you will see very little gain in mpg if any.

 

[mikey_d05]

I gained 2 mpg on the freeway when I went from stock tires to hummer 37's, but I lost a fair bit of grunt on the bottom as well. 3.73's really don't help that matter any.

 

[VBODCC]

I'm finding I either stay stock 235/85R16 or go to 255/85R16. Other combo's increase the width or go to larger rims. Now, to find a good make/model that'll improve the mpg. Now to find some 255/85R16 tires for under $700?