Absolute best tire for highway fuel mileage?

[grwil67]

2024 Tacoma Limited
Purchased Dec 7th 2024
Now @ 22k miles.

Was averaging 15 to 18mpg when new. (Using calculator)

Now she is fairly constant over 21mpg as it slowly trended up.

Only mod was removing plastic under front end. Did it help? Really not sure as it was constantly trending better and better.

Anyway anyone have any experience with tires and improved fuel economy?

Was thinking about a slightly taller tire to reduce rpms on highway, but there truly is a science in efficiency and I pray Toyota did that already. But for what speed as our average is 77 to 78mph....
Then there is the issue in tire weight, as spinning weight is a MONSTER as it spins up..

Wife drives 90 miles a day for her work. She has been @ 23 to 24mpg with a +400 range for years in her prior 3 Ford Explorer Limiteds.

Just trying to get more from Tacoma.

After 22k miles and a recent trip traveling over 1000 miles on vacation in just last 8 months we both find the comfort of the Tacoma better than the Ford Explorer Limited.

Only thing the Explorer had was it would run circles around this power train (regular plain v6 non-turbo) and get better fuel mileage with RANGE! We had 0 issues with any of them with well over 200k on each of them.

Pray the Tacoma proves to be as close to reliable, as I believe it will.

Swapped to Tacoma to be able to haul more (in comfort) to where kids moved far away.

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[Sagebrush]

Probably the 4-py stock tires. They are lightweight.

If you add anything bigger or heavier, it'll reduce your mileage.

Within the first week, I swapped them out for 10-ply of the same size. I drive off the pavement a lot and don't like flats.

 

[grwil67]

Thanks and just looking for anyone already chased this rabbit.

Wife's daily driver and has never been offroad, so 4 ply should be plenty.

And forgot to mention, I personally can get an easy 1 mpg better than my heavy foot wife who is not easy on the pedal getting up to speed. smh....

 

[Slappy]

you want tire that is has street style treads,mud & snow r ok but not as good on fuel use as the regular street style
not the knobby A/T & off road treads ,those just use more effort
most all online tire retailers have comparison charts that list fuel economy along side mileage,plys , ratings , ect

Energy Saver A/S by Michelin would be my choice

 

[Dansflhti]

My 2024 sport came with 265/65/18 primacy LTX. I'm thinking that tire will get me as good mpg as any tire.

 

[grwil67]

you want tire that is has street style treads,mud & snow r ok but not as good on fuel use as the regular street style
not the knobby A/T & off road treads ,those just use more effort
most all online tire retailers have comparison charts that list fuel economy along side mileage,plys , ratings , ect

Energy Saver A/S by Michelin would be my choice

That has been my choice thus far as well. Was just looking to see if anyone else has done research.

I also keep set mine @ 38psi and she rides fine. This last trip in the Florida heat had all of them running an even 40PSI until the sun went down and then back to 38/39.
For what it is worth these tires/rims keep air pressure better than anything I have ever owned!

Had a Ford one time that couldn't keep air too long with any tire!
Daughters 2003 Escort GT

 

[izzy]

Anything on your roof will also demolish MPG, racks etc

This also probably sounds like boring advice but I can pretty regularly get 25MPG with the TRD OR tires by just staying below 70, unless theres a huge incline. Once you get above 55 aero starts to matter.

 

[grwil67]

Anything on your roof will also demolish MPG, racks etc

This also probably sounds like boring advice but I can pretty regularly get 25MPG with the TRD OR tires by just staying below 70, unless theres a huge incline. Once you get above 55 aero starts to matter.

I can definitely see that!! Wife won't budge below 77 going 45 miles each way. 35 miles is highway.
So she does 62mph for 10 miles then 35 miles @ 77. (Math shows about 2 minutes time she cut)

My son drives about same distance going 68 to 72 in 2025 F150 full four door 4x4 with V6 turbo averaging 24.95 mpg.

I get about what she gets in my 2018 F150 4 door 4x4 with 5.0v8, BUT, I drive whatever the speed limit is and baby up to speed!
And we'll over 600 mile range with HUGE fuel tank! +$100 to fill it up.

 

[Miqie]

I can definitely see that!! Wife won't budge below 77 going 45 miles each way. 35 miles is highway.
So she does 62mph for 10 miles then 35 miles @ 77. (Math shows about 2 minutes time she cut)

My son drives about same distance going 68 to 72 in 2025 F150 full four door 4x4 with V6 turbo averaging 24.95 mpg.

I get about what she gets in my 2018 F150 4 door 4x4 with 5.0v8, BUT, I drive whatever the speed limit is and baby up to speed!
And we'll over 600 mile range with HUGE fuel tank! +$100 to fill it up.

Still can't understand why the Tacoma 4 banger can't get better mileage. I baby my 2024 Sport and have to work to average 22mpg.

 

[soupy1234]

Still can't understand why the Tacoma 4 banger can't get better mileage. I baby my 2024 Sport and have to work to average 22mpg.

It's a big heavy vehicle shaped like a brick.

 

[BAQ717]

Still can't understand why the Tacoma 4 banger can't get better mileage. I baby my 2024 Sport and have to work to average 22mpg.

Understand your thinking but the main reason for the switch was emissions, not mpg. Paired with increased HP and torque it was an easy decision on their behalf.

 

[izzy]

Still can't understand why the Tacoma 4 banger can't get better mileage. I baby my 2024 Sport and have to work to average 22mpg.

I think the problem is between the wheel and the seat to be honest.

Toyota advertises 26MPG highway which I've seen on the 245/70/17s and the 265/70/17s, up from 22 highway for the SR5 V6 4x4.

 

[Wolf359]

They are not much to look at, but Michelin LTX Defender M/S2 is one of the best. I got 21 in town with those and without the front air dam. They are rated on Tire Rack much better than the Michelin Primacy. I have had both and there is no comparison in the rain, the Defenders are much better, quieter and better riding.

Once I went to an AT, mpg's dropped to 18.5 in town.

 

[Baltimore]

Question to OP
What tires do you currently have on it?
Posts show about 3 different ones being used from factory.

Mine came with general grabbers.
Mileage was 19mpg give or take until i broke ~2200mi, then suddenly stepped up and now I average 21-22 for around town with lots of small trips and 23-24 on long distance drives (>150mi in a single haul). EPA rating for my trim is 23-24-24.
Front spoiler still attached. tonneau cover added. No roof rack or other impactful modifications.

 

[izzy]

It's a big heavy vehicle shaped like a brick.

Yeah hence why anything over 70MPH will demolish your MPG. The MPG hit when the wind resistance goes up is collosal.

Even on these not so big trucks, compared to a full size.

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