Have a '96 Cherokee 4.0 auto running on the BF Goodrich A/T KOs, and I'm thinking about changing over to a street tire, if and only if it will save me the cost in gas over the next two years that it costs to buy em.

So what's the popular opinion? Will a set of say Michelin LTS M/S Highway All Seasons save me say $600 over the next two years, over my BFG A/T KOs?

I drive about 12K miles a year 99.9% on pavement.

 

In theory yes All season highway tired will provide for better gas maileage because the tread on the AT tires will cause some wind resistance. The actual differences will vary depending on side, load, and general operation of your particular xj. There are several things that will affect fuel mileage besides the size and type of tires you run.

 

My calculations of 16mpg/24K miles/$4/gal fuel indicates that you'll need an increase in mileage of 10% or more. If your BFGs are in good shape, I wouldn't do it.

 

You do realize 10% of 16mpg is only 1.6mpg better?

I see that being completely attainable(probably even better) switching to a pure road tire instead of something A/T.

 

I'm not a fan of michelins. I vote get some street tires. Mastercraft, Cooper, or Firestones. Keep it to stock size if you're going for mileage.

 

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...w=false&cs=225

 

I'm not saying it won't.... however I doubt a tire of the same size and width will improve your fuel economy by 10% with a different tread pattern. I guess it has to do with rolling resistance... You might have a small improvement but 10% would be a stretch IMO


When I had Cooper discovery H/T tires on my 1995 Cherokee I noticed no improvement in fuel economy from the Firestone all terrains that where on there before. I bought H/T tires because the life expectancy (mileage they where rated at) was higher than all terrains.

EDIT: I found a thread claiming the US department of energy said up to a 4.5% gain with lower resistance tires...

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ling-2813.html

 

If you don't need ATs for any reason then I'd say do it. I just hope you wouldn't give up any AT need to save a couple bucks.

 

a return to stock size or JUST over would be a big help... also, if you really plan on not doing anything offroad you could pull the front drive shaft, friend of mine had to take his out for blown u-joints, he drove it that way for a couple weeks afterward and saw a huge jump. he was using half tank of gas one way to work and dropped to 3/8 of tank... so it does help (he has 4.5" lift and 33"s, hence half tank)

 

Find someone to trade with would be my suggestion.

Heck, I'm looking at suspension refreshes and lifts seem like the easy ticket. I'm thinking my 275/60/16 Cooper Cobras might look kind of funny with a lift....

 

I'm running 235/75/15 cuz that's what came on it when I bought the xj. Right now I get about 20mpg mostly highway driving. I'm curious what increase I would get going to stock 215/75/15.

 

Your going down in tire size? Makes the engine turn faster, uses more fuel.....wrong way.

Ron

 

I had BFG All Terrain TAs on my F150 (31x10.50x15 vs 235x75x15) and didn't see a reduction in mileage when factoring in the difference in tire height. The OEMs were Firestone all season radials that looked like they belonged on a car.

I'm on the 4th set of tires on the '96 Cherokee. The 1st were the OEM 225x75xGoodyear Wranglers that lasted 52K miles. The 2nd set was BFG Touring TAs 235x70x15 that lasted another 52K miles. The 3rd set was ? 235x75x15 that went 50K, and now I'm back to Wranglers, but 235x75x15s. I couldn't tell you that there was 1mpg difference in any of them, but it got its best fuel mileage on the first set of tires. Fuel has changed considerably since then, and the ethanol does nothing to help mileage. I'm more inclined to say that my mileage has dropped 10% because of the ethanol, and it costs more....

 

But less mass and rolling resistance increases fuel economy.

 

To a certain extent.