New Tires and 10% hit to MPG.. OUCH!!

hi all,

I need help on pick a good set of tire

Michelin HydroEdge w/ Green X (All-Season)
UTQG=800 A B, 44psi, 11/32, 21lbs, 842, $99 (90,000mile warranty)

or

Kumho eco Solus HM KR22 (All Season)
UTQG= 800 A B, 44PSI, 11/32, 20LBS, 834, $77

which one is better? or anyone had them put on? thanks

 

I agree about your perception about EPA estimates. That's why I ask in my FE complaint questionnaire "What fuel economy are you expecting and why?"

It's a big pet peeve of mine when people post fuel economy complaints here and elsewhere (e.g. Cruzetalk) and give scant/no information. Sometimes we do find out things like them driving 80 mph or having tons of short city drives, both of which will yield poor mileage. I wish there were more education and general knowledge about the tests, what goes into them and factors that help/hurt mileage.

I do point people to http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html for info about the tests.

I wish that the whole gallonage vs. mileage thing were more widely known/thought of. (I was guilty of tuning out on this argument myself, until recently.) Drivers of guzzlers are the ones who really should be tracking their mileage closely, driving more efficiently or hypermiling as even a 1-3 mpg imrpovement/drop can be huge for them. Sadly, I suspect that they don't care at all or care very little since (judging by all the monstrosity class SUVs being driven around solo or w/minimal cargo and passengers).

 

But doesn't that attrach squirrels?

 

I didn't think of that! *goes out to buy squirrel traps*

 

I agree completely. The fact that they are driving around in these guzzlers unnecessarily (in many cases) is in itself evidence that they either don't care about mpg, are unaware of it, or have other priorities. So it's unrealistic to hope that they will try to drive more efficiently. STM the only thing to do is to try to drive efficiently ourselves even though it makes less difference in terms of gas consumed than it would IF guzzlers were driven efficiently.

"Unnecessarily": lots of contractors around here have switched from gigantic 4x4 diesel pickups to more fuel efficient alternatives. The carpenter who did my renovation had a 2WD Ford Ranger (not bad on gas) but bought a Ford Transit Van for even better mpg (and functionality: his tools are covered in the van). I also see lots of them using Dodge Sprinters, which are efficient. The ones still using the monster trucks probably either don't care about mpg, have to tow (some of them use trailers as mobile workshops), or need an open bed to carry awkward shaped stuff. I'm skeptical about needing 4x4 and massive tires, this ain't Baja and few construction sites around here are so rough that 2WD wouldn't suffice.

"Unnecessarily": A couple is having one of the units here redone. They have two kids. She drives a Buick Enclave (which she leaves idling here while she and the kids are checking progress on their condo), he has a BMW SUV. A minivan would certainly do for her and the kids, get better mpg, and would probably be safer than the Buick. Even something smaller like a (gasp!) car would probably do. Same for him. Does anybody seriously think that they care about mpg and would try to drive more efficiently? If they cared at all, I suspect their first step would be to buy different vehicles. People in the US almost invariably prefer buying new technology to changing their driving behavior. Look at all the folks on here who buy a Prius and want to mod it for better mpg rather than learning to drive more efficiently: they want to drive "normal". Even though driving more efficiently nets larger mpg gains and costs less than mods.

 

The Kumho tyres are rated AA 15inch and above, and what is the price difference.

 

*Just replaced my originals (Goodyears?) at 40k on my 2008 with Kumho KR22's and lost 2mpgs (49 down to 47)...maybe they will break in. Hope so since I'll have to wait 100k to replace them!

 

Um, I think that's more like 5%.