I checked and the 235's are what came on my truck. If I went with 255's would I get any increase in gas mileage? I know the taller tire lowers your cruise rpm's to a certain degree. But at the same time you may lose a little take off with the higher gear ratio.

I'm looking at a tire at Walmart called the Liberator. The price difference between 235's and 255's is only $2. I've never heard of this brand, but I think Michelin makes them.
Thanks for any help, Joe

 

Actually, those two sizes are very close in diameter. I would expect very little difference in fuel mileage.

Edit: Oh, I thought it was 235/75R16. Some people notice an inch, others don't.

Never heard of Liberator tires, so maybe someone else can chime in.

 

About 1-inch tall is the 255 over the 235. Mpg difference will be about 0, your speedometer will be off the same difference as the height (which will only be a couple of mph at 55). With a good quality tire you may gain slightly better ride. Firestone Indy 500 is the highest rated tire by survey on tirerack in that size. If you shop around you may be able to find the Firestone for comparable money as Wally World charges a healthy price to install tires. Personally I would pass on Wally World tires, I intend to get the Firestones if these piece of crap APs ever wear out or get alittle closer on my truck.

 

fyi,

bigger tires will always decrease your gas mileage. though the difference in these two sizes is minimal, i would expect that you'd get slightly better mileage with a set of the smaller tires. smaller tires=less weight=less rolling resistence.

-matt

 

My 04 f-150 came with p235 70 17, hancook dynapro tires...after blowing out the side walls in two of them in two days, I spent a small fortune upgradding to to a Bf goodrich ruggerd terian T/A tire, this is a ten ply tire, size lt 265 70 17.

I use my truck for work and the original tires (max35 PSI ) would not take any whight and are for two skinny for a 8ft reg cab 4wd long box.

If you do any hauling and have the dynapros, they are a p rated tire, Ford will not cover you if you blow them out and they are highly unsafe. (Firestone-Exploder)

my new tires are a inch taller and performance with the 5.4 3v 355 ltd slip is slower off the mark but on the highway or underload, thier is hardly any differance.

I was going to get a long trail T/A but got the heavier 10 ply tire instead. ( my own verson of over kill)

Check your tires, if they are rated P 235 or p255 ford wernt cheap on you, if your going to haul or tow, get a LT rated tire.

And Ford is the odd ball when it comes to thier tire sizes...to get a better tire, I had to up size and go to a non ford brand.

 

Joedragracer PLEASE PLEASE DON"T BUY TIRES FROM WAL MART I got a set of tires off of Wal Mart for my car, on the drive home, the car vibrated like crazy above 40 mph, I turned around went back to Wal Mart and explained that to them, they jacked up my car, looked at it for 1 hour, never touched the tires they installed and then told me my ball joints and stuts were bad, causing the vibration. I TOLD THEM AGGGGHH!!! YOU DUMMIES AGGGGHHHHH !!!!!! MY CAR NEVER HAD THAT VIBRATION BEFORE YOU INSTALLED THOSE NEW TIRES AGGGGGHHHHH!!!! thats it!!! I want my money back and put my old tires back on!!! Then they told me they are going to have to charge me for mounting and balancing my old tires AGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! IM going NUTSSS AGGGHHHHH!!!! to end the story i got my old tires back on my car for free w/o a balance and had no vibration on the way home.

 

I had an Explorer, which I upgraded to 255/70/15 from the recommended 235/75/15. It screwed the explorer up like crazy. The anti-lock brakes quit working. Over all performance went down to nothing. Gas mileage went from 28 on Hwy to 20. I even thought I needed a tune up. After a year, I went back to the original 235's. The explorer acted like it's old self. I dont know if it will be so drastic of comparision since were talking about V8 verses V6, 4.0 L. I've never heard of anuone getting better mileage with bigger tires.
I bought my son a set of Liberators from Wally world. So far, I'm satisfied.
MotoF is right, the mech's at wally world are boneheads. You need to watch them like hawks if you go there. Good luck

 

Thanks for the info guys. I guess the reason I was asking about an increase in mileage with the taller tire was, a taller tire should alter your overall gear ratio. Make it geared higher since the tire is turning less than a smaller one. But I guess it takes more power to turn a bigger tire.

I've also noticed the mechanics at Walmart not being to intelligent. I was in there today and seen another tire that caught my eye. A BFGoodrich Land Terrain 245/75/16. It was priced almost the same as the Liberator. I also seen the Continetal Sport LT tires that are more expensive, but are 80,000 mile tires. The others are 40,000 and 50,000 mile tires. I don't expect a tire to last that long, but I will pay more for one if I know it will outlast the others.
Thanks again, Joe

 

If you want a tire that will last a long time, look at some Michelins.

They can be pricey, but you will get alot of miles out of them.

 

Liberators are made by BF Goodrich and are excellent tires for the money .

I run Liberators on my 1989 YJ with no problems. I guess it all boils down to your preferance. Bear this in mind........ "You can't make a Ford drive like a Cadillac, just by changing the tires".

Good Luck

Dave

 

my milage has improved with a lt 265 70/17 BFG RT T/A taller tire by one inch. also truck rpms are 1500 at 60 mph, with the smaller hancooks p235 75/17 truck rpm was 1750 at 60 mph 3:55 ltd slip

 

hmmm runnin 315's here , and my antilocks work just fine