Hi All, I am curious for peoples opinions on eventually replacing my F150s tires with either Michelin energy saver 235/80 R17 A/S or the Michelin Defender LTX 265/70 R17 M/S. My priorities are first fuel efficiency, and then second ice, and then third snow. (Both tires can be had in load range E. The energy saver is essentially the same size, although 1 inch narrower.) https://tiresize.com/tires/Michelin/Energy-Saver-AS-235-80R17.htm https://tiresize.com/tires/Michelin/Defender-LTX-MS-265-70R17.htm Thanks as always, -kehyler
great tires, but hard to know how well they will work to save gas on a truck. does tire rack review them?
I had been assuming that LRR tires would help on a truck too...at the moment, I'm looking primarily for mainly a LLR tire that has a small amount of snow/ice life to it.
Get the defender, it's a mud and snow tire with a much longer tread life, haven't looked at your size, didn't know they made hugh LRR tires, but go to tire wrack and look at the specs for both tires, the Defender is superior.
IMO, I look at this like buying a diet coke to wash down a supersized double whopper with extra cheese and fries, but to each their own. I have a Superduty F250, which is a gas pig. So I only drive it when I need it, and it wears heavy-duty work tires with aggressive tread. I know the tires will get me thru any condition, and live with the down side of its thirst for fuel. On a side note, I'll be interested to see Tesla's pickup when it becomes available.
@KennyGS has a point. I wouldn't expect much, if any, visible improvement in fuel economy. The tires on a truck account for a much smaller percentage of the fuel used than on a lightweight, aerodynamically clean Prius.
It's somewhat apples/oranges, since the defenders are so much wider. The Defenders used to have the GreenX label, not sure if they still do, or if anything has actually changed, say in its rubber formulation. They're a decent all-round choice.
True, but a pig with a lipstick still looks better than a pig without lipstick. (Small choices matter, albeit lesser, than big ones.)
i have an '05 dakota, 18 mpg no matter what i do. but the tires are huge. will narrower tires carry the same weight?
Better clarify "slightly smaller". If you mean reduced outside diameter (more than trivial amounts, say limit of 2%), then it gets complicated: you're changing gearing, and throwing the odo off. I would try to keep outside diameter as close as practical, and then yeah: a taller/narrower tire should reduce rolling resistance.
Why have a F150 in the first place? If you are concerned about MPG get a fuel efficient car. The savings at the gas pump will probably pay to rent a truck when you really need one.
