Absolute best tire for highway fuel mileage?

[bitflogger]

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.

OEM tires are in general also selected to get good EPA test results. TireRack crowd sourced reviews are an excellent way to make judgements on a good tire to choose.

IMO, you probably made the wrong choice for a long daily commute if fuel economy is the goal. For a year+ the Tacoma has served my business, trail building and ski area operations well but it is a light truck. If you do the simple math for percentages, a different vehicle type is what you need to really make a difference. For example, trying really hard and not going fast can get 24-25 MPG with our Tacoma. My wife's AWD turbo wagon gets 39 MPG without trying in the same driving and a way better choice for lots of driving.

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[grwil67]

Was going to compare the tires on the Michelin website but it WOULD NOT let me even select the ENERGY SAVER!!

Thinking maybe the load rating for the truck... Filter asked for Year Make and Model....

There are no MICHELIN ENERGY SAVER A/S currently available for your search. Please find below MICHELIN tires matching your current search.

It gave me the stock tire and then Defender LTX M/S 2 as an alternative..

So from what I have read the Defender being the lesser of street tire will be heavier and less fuel mileage.

So as of now the stock tires are the best replacement for fuel economy.

 

[GPTaco]

I have factory Michelins on my TRD Sport and currently getting 24mpg on the highway running 110-115 km/h avg

 

[grwil67]

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

If Ford can do better with full size much more powerful trucks, surely Toyota can do better with a smaller brick!

Detailed Breakdown by Engine:

• 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg (4WD).
  
  
• 5.0L V8: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg (4WD).
  
  
• 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg (4WD).
  
  
• 3.5L PowerBoost Full-Hybrid V6: 22 city / 24 highway / 23 combined mpg (4WD).

 

[grwil67]

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.

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.

Yes, I forgot to mention that I installed the bed cover as well right after purchase.

Truck came with the Primacy tires.

Am planning on putting spoiler back on but was waiting for it to totally break in and level out fuel mileage.

Personally like the look without, but if it improves, it will stay on.

 

[grwil67]

I have factory Michelins on my TRD Sport and currently getting 24mpg on the highway running 110-115 km/h avg

Could definitely see that @ your speeds of 67.35 - 71.45mph (Definitely had to convert! ).

Speed definetely smacks the fuel mileage on this small engine!

 

[Compherh]

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.

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.

The OEM Micheline Primacy tires are probably the best for mpg.

Rolling Resistance
Highway tires roll better than mud tires or all terrain tires. Think of a chuck wagon going down the street next to your taco. Which rolls better?

Unsprung Weight
This is the weight at the axle where the wheel turns. If you add a passenger weighing 200 lbs to the taco, your gas mileage is not going to change. If you add 200 lbs of weight to the wheels, you are going to drop mpg. You can check wheel weight and tire weight and compare to stock.

Taller / Wider Tires
Taller tires require more power to get them to start up spinning. Wider tires provide more resistance when rolling.

Cool Effect
I have 25 Taco Limited Hybrid. I lost 3-4 mpg in the city when I changed the wheels and tires.
Fuel Rebel 18x9 20mm offset. Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent 275/70 R18 E. The tires/wheels are heavier than stock. The tire fills the wheel well much better now, my wife saids the Taco looks tuffer. Looks good and more capable or better mpg?

 

[Cobia]

I think (based on your wife's foot) the high speeds and wind resistance is killing the mpg. I have a 2024 Limited non hybrid with air dam removed, OEM Tonneau cover installed and consistently get 29-31 mpg.

Driving conditions are: 41 miles each way with a 4-5 degree steady elevation change over a total of 6 miles in the 55mph stretch. Speed limit is 55mph for 33 miles and then it drops to 35mph for 8 miles at actual sea level (ocean can be seen at the 35mph). I drive no more than 58mph on posted 55mph and religiously observe the 35mph. There are 3 stop lights on the route and I have to stop on at least one of them and I use the automatic engine turn off while a sitting duck.

I do have a set of take offs Traihunter wheels/tires that I will be soon installing and can't wait to see what the change will be given the exact driving condition/route.

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