What Are The Best Tires To Increase Gas Mileage?

Best Tires To Boost Your Off-Roader’s Fuel Economy

There are dozens of variables when it comes to the different causes of poor fuel mileage, from air filters and worn spark plugs to wind drag, low-grade fuels, weather conditions and so on. But tires are probably one of the biggest culprits if you’re seeing your fuel economy suffer – they contribute about 20% to 30% of the cause of diminished gas mileage in some cases.

Things like air pressure, wearing, and even the type of tire can all contribute to less distance between trips to the pump, so today we want to show you why tires have such an impact on your gas mileage and which ones are the best options for your rig. Let’s jump right into it!

Table Of Contents

-What Causes Tires To Have Such a Big Impact on Fuel Economy?

-What Tire Types Should You Get To Increase Your Gas Mileage?

-How Do Hybrid Tires Do For Fuel Economy?

-Best Fuel Efficient Tire Type Recommendations For Off-Road Vehicles

What Causes Tires To Have Such a Big Impact on Fuel Economy?

When we say “the type of tire that it is,” we’re referring to the category that the tire fits into. Is it a mud-terrain tire that has huge blocky tread lugs? Or is it an all-season designated tire, of which traction and fuel economy are the main priorities?

The key word here is “Rolling Resistance” also referred to as rolling friction or rolling drag – you’ll see more of it on mud tires with huge, blocky treads, for example. The more rolling resistance a tire has, the more energy it takes the engine to turn the tires, and if the engine has to work harder, it’ll have to use more fuel to do so.

This makes sense, though – it’s really no different than hooking up a trailer behind you. The more weight the trailer has, the more fuel you’ll consume, because the engine is working that much harder to pull you along at the same speed.

What Tire Types Should You Get To Increase Your Gas Mileage?

So then, if you’re using your vehicle mainly for on-road use and want to maintain decent fuel economy, even with upgrading the size of the tires, look at tires that are gonna be in the “All-Season” category, as their tread compounds and design are gonna be maximized for traction and fuel economy. Traction is the main priority with these tires, as there are a number of brands and models that list them as traction-designed while still being eco-friendly and good for saving fuel and energy.

Although all-season tires will offer better fuel economy on the road, the downside is that they’re also sacrificing off-road performance. If you know you’re gonna be hitting the trails often, an “All-Terrain” tire would be the next best choice – they offer a good blend of on-road and off-road traction, along with the fuel savings that come in the package.

How Do Hybrid Tires Do For Fuel Economy?

There are some all-terrain tread designs that appear to be more of a hybrid tire than an all-terrain model, so that begs the question: How do these tires do for gas mileage?

First, a clarification – hybrid tires aren’t specific to hybrid vehicles. They’re a middle-of-the-road blend between an all-terrain and mud-terrain tire, and often are referred to as “Rugged-Terrain” tires. Rugged-terrain hybrid tires will offer even more off-road traction than your standard all-terrain, but the more you tip the scale to better-performing off-road tires, the more on-road fuel efficiency will suffer.

Best Fuel Efficient Tire Type Recommendations For Off-Road Vehicles

The next time you’re looking for a new set of tires and want the best blend of fuel-saving intelligence and off-road performance, a rule of thumb is that off-road tires (like mud-terrains) will have the worst fuel economy, and the tires that perform the worst in off-road situations will have the best fuel economy.

There are variables to consider, though, like a larger-sized on-road tire compared to a smaller-sized off-road tire – something like this might still create a wash between the two. A heavier fuel savings tire will still create a need for the engine to work harder than a smaller and lighter off-road model. Keep in mind also that running the correct tire pressures and newer tires – compared to older, worn-out tires – will also give you better fuel economy.

Shop Off-Road Tires For Your Rig at TrailBuilt Off-Road

With all this in mind, we’ve got just what you’re looking for whether you’re in the market for beefy mud-terrain tires or light and efficient all-season models, and everything in between. Check out our tire store today and find the set of tires that best fits your build – financing, free shipping and quick delivery are available on all in-stock tires in our store. As always, we’ll see you out on the trails!