Gas mileage decrease on wider tires? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

donoman · 03-17-2015, 05:47 PM

Hey guys

I'm thinking about new wheels/tires for the FRS but concerned about which width to get. The stock tires have enough grip for me. I would like a tire that rides better, quieter, and maintains MPGs. Wider tires tend to grip more but I am mostly interested in new wheels/tires for looks and weight reduction. However it seems like a lot of the styles I want don't come in the stock rim width. I like the wheel to look flush.

Have any of you been able to maintain 30MPG on aftermarket wheels / tires?

gramicci101 · 03-17-2015, 05:54 PM

The wheel looking flush is more a character of offset than tire width. I have the OEM wheels with 20f/25r mm spacers and mine fill the wheel well nicely.

Everything I've read says that wider tires will decrease your gas mileage. If you'd like to have a more flush look with similar width tires, look into a 17x8 or 18x8 with a 35mm offset and 225/45-17 or 225/40-18 tires. Michelin Pilot Super Sports come in both sizes. So do most other decent brands.

mav1178 · 03-17-2015, 06:08 PM

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=29

swarb · 03-17-2015, 06:32 PM

Everyone's definition of flush is different. My mpg has been changed more by more city driving(vs highway) than the change in tire width/weight. With the same commute and the wheel/tire change, it is roughly the same, less than 1mpg difference. Driving habits make the most difference imo.

Cjymiller · 03-17-2015, 07:20 PM

Yes I have 17x9 Weds and average 30mpg on a manual BRZ that I use for commute if I don't take it for a weekend drive in the mountains.

continuecrushing · 03-17-2015, 07:25 PM

I was able to pull of 30mpg with 18x9 and 245/40/18

Pretty consistantly, not just one time while going downhill lol.

And I got 30mpg CALCULATED mpg, not the estimate by car

donoman · 03-17-2015, 08:54 PM

Thanks guys that's very encouraging!

On my 911 I put 275's on the back and gas mileage dropped from 18-19 to 15-16. Of course with the new tires came different driving sessions ;-). I also had an Insight and gas mileage dropped from 65 to 50 MPG when going from stock LRR tires to some sticky rubber... But that car only had 65HP.

03-17-2015, 05:47 PM	#1
donoman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: '13 FR-S Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 277 Thanks: 6 Thanked 87 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Gas mileage decrease on wider tires? Hey guys I'm thinking about new wheels/tires for the FRS but concerned about which width to get. The stock tires have enough grip for me. I would like a tire that rides better, quieter, and maintains MPGs. Wider tires tend to grip more but I am mostly interested in new wheels/tires for looks and weight reduction. However it seems like a lot of the styles I want don't come in the stock rim width. I like the wheel to look flush. Have any of you been able to maintain 30MPG on aftermarket wheels / tires?

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03-17-2015, 05:54 PM	#2
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	The wheel looking flush is more a character of offset than tire width. I have the OEM wheels with 20f/25r mm spacers and mine fill the wheel well nicely. Everything I've read says that wider tires will decrease your gas mileage. If you'd like to have a more flush look with similar width tires, look into a 17x8 or 18x8 with a 35mm offset and 225/45-17 or 225/40-18 tires. Michelin Pilot Super Sports come in both sizes. So do most other decent brands.

03-17-2015, 06:08 PM	#3
mav1178 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2005 Toyota Camry Location: 91745 Posts: 6,562 Thanks: 493 Thanked 6,099 Times in 3,030 Posts Mentioned: 95 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=29

03-17-2015, 06:32 PM	#4
swarb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: BRZ Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,052 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,451 Times in 1,271 Posts Mentioned: 79 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Everyone's definition of flush is different. My mpg has been changed more by more city driving(vs highway) than the change in tire width/weight. With the same commute and the wheel/tire change, it is roughly the same, less than 1mpg difference. Driving habits make the most difference imo.

03-17-2015, 07:25 PM	#6
continuecrushing Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FRS Location: Lake Elsinore, CA Posts: 2,707 Thanks: 1,231 Thanked 2,144 Times in 1,003 Posts Mentioned: 73 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I was able to pull of 30mpg with 18x9 and 245/40/18 Pretty consistantly, not just one time while going downhill lol. And I got 30mpg CALCULATED mpg, not the estimate by car

03-17-2015, 08:54 PM	#7
donoman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: '13 FR-S Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 277 Thanks: 6 Thanked 87 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks guys that's very encouraging! On my 911 I put 275's on the back and gas mileage dropped from 18-19 to 15-16. Of course with the new tires came different driving sessions ;-). I also had an Insight and gas mileage dropped from 65 to 50 MPG when going from stock LRR tires to some sticky rubber... But that car only had 65HP.

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