Summer vs Winter tires

[SmartTrucker]

I've bought and sold vehicles the last couple years and usually they come with half worn out winters or all seasons.

This coming winter as the existing tires are wearing down I plan on getting a good set of winters and then when summer rolls in I plan on getting a set for summer.

Right now I've been driving around my 96 Jimmy with a set of somewhat worn down winters that came with the vehicle all throughout the summer.

Anyone have an idea how much extra fuel I've likely been burning as compared to a summer set of tires?

[whitevette]

Originally Posted by SmartTrucker

Right now I've been driving around my 96 Jimmy with a set of somewhat worn down winters that came with the vehicle all throughout the summer.

Anyone have an idea how much extra fuel I've likely been burning as compared to a summer set of tires?

My crystal ball sez : "Lots"!

[Johnny Mullet]

I suggest a set of BF Goodrich Long Trail tires for that vehicle. They have a great rep, lower rolling resistance, but still have traction.

[Frank Lee]

My crystal ball says "maybe not so much". Cuz worn tires have lower rolling resistance than new ones.

[SmartTrucker]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

My crystal ball says "maybe not so much". Cuz worn tires have lower rolling resistance than new ones.

Yeah this is true I guess I should have left the question simpler and said an average winter tire vs average summer tire.

[SmartTrucker]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

I suggest a set of BF Goodrich Long Trail tires for that vehicle. They have a great rep, lower rolling resistance, but still have traction.

Cool I'll check those out thanks for the tip

[SuperTrooper]

I've used winter tires on my Honda Odyssey since I bought it. They are awful in the snow without them. I notice about a 1-2 mpg drop vs the summer tires. The biggest difference is in the noise.

On my SUVs I've used M&S rated tires year round. I run Goodyear Wrangler GS-As (no longer made) on the Explorer and my daughter's Jeep Liberty. Good quiet year round tires. My Isuzu Trooper always worked best on Yokohama Geolanders, but the Explorer hated them.

[Formula413]

FWIW one reason not to run winter tires in the warm weather is that the winter compound is softer, as it is made for lower temps, and thus will wear out more quickly. Save your winter tires for the winter.

[brucepick]

I could look up from previous winters how much mpg I lost after changing over to 4 snow tires. Basically from about 24-26 mpg to about 21-22 mpg. That was very consistent driving, pretty much the same route every day, about 80 miles each way to work and back.

BUT you have to give some of that decrease to the winter fuel mix they push on us here in the winter. That probably accounts for half of the loss.

Anyway, you do lose mpg with winter tires. If you want to get your best possible mpg, run tires with a nice highway tread in the summer. I can't seem to find true "summer" tires, so I end up with all seasons. I put on the snows as late as possible for my local climate. This past winter I only put snows on the rears and it was OK as we had hardly any snow. Some winters we get lots and in that case I'd put on the 2nd pair when needed.

Also you likely can't pump up snow tires as hard as other tires. All the snows I've seen are "max" 35 psi, whereas nearly all the regular tires are marked for 44 psi or even higher. Higher psi is good for mpg but we don't need to have that debate in this thread.

[Formula413]

Originally Posted by brucepick

I could look up from previous winters how much mpg I lost after changing over to 4 snow tires. Basically from about 24-26 mpg to about 21-22 mpg. That was very consistent driving, pretty much the same route every day, about 80 miles each way to work and back.

BUT you have to give some of that decrease to the winter fuel mix they push on us here in the winter. That probably accounts for half of the loss.

Also the denser winter air means increased pumping losses, although this is certainly minimal.

Eastern Connecticut is nice. I had to go to Pomfret for work last week.