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Old 10-29-2019, 04:26 AM   #16 (permalink)
IsaacCarlson
eco....something or other
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Colfax, WI
Posts: 724

wood hauler - '91 Ford F-250
Team Pontiac
90 day: 26.69 mpg (US)

Rav - '06 Toyota Rav4 Base
90 day: 26.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 39
Thanked 67 Times in 50 Posts
We used to run 45 psi in the rav4, but with the new "oversized" coopers the sweet spot seems to be around 36-38 psi. They have much stiffer sidewalls and are wider/taller, so they require less pressure to support the same weight. I could run them higher, but the ride would be horrible. It's already a stout ride. New hd coils in the rear and kyb shocks/struts all around. I love it. We have seen ~ 2mpg drop with the new tires, but they travel 6% more distance than the odometer reads, so it's all good. Currently averaging ~24 mpg since installing the new tires at 38 psi, compared to 26 mpg with the old ones at 45psi. The new tires are the very best we could find over the course of about 6 months of research. The rolling resistance on them seems to be about the same from 38-45 psi, so no need to make the ride harder with higher pressures. I have had tires that improved all the way to 60 psi, so these are definitely throwing me a curve ball with great performance at 38 psi. I run 80-100 psi in my truck when hauling, but that is only for carrying capacity/handling. The unloaded sweet spot is around 60/40.
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1991 F-250:
4.9L, Mazda 5 speed, 4.10 10.25" rear
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