Best wheel/tire size for mileage?

[burdickjp]

I just picked up a 2025 Lariat. It came with 19 inch wheels and 225/55-19 tires. It looks like the less expensive trims have 17 inch wheels and 225/65-17 tires.

I expect that the taller sidewall on the 17" wheels would be a bit cushier on the road. I'm less familiar with tires available in these sizes. I'm curious which of the available sizes should get better gas mileage. I have a hunch it's the lighter wheels and tires, especially considering they're the same tread width. I'm wondering if anyone has anything more substantive than that, like is there a high efficiency tire available in a compatible size?

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[bgn]

You could probably get into the weeds here and discuss some small efficiency gains, but nothing that you buy will improve your mileage to offset the cost of wheels and tires.

 

[Ryom]

You could probably get into the weeds here and discuss some small efficiency gains, but nothing that you buy will improve your mileage to offset the cost of wheels and tires.

That's true, but some people like to play numbers games like that even if there's no practical payback. There are ancillary benefits as well, less unsprung weight will increase ride quality, taller sidewalls will increase ride quality and make the wheels less susceptible to road damage from potholes and curbs.

 

[tom_tucker]

The 19" would annoy me I think. Nice in the curves and good pavement but it has to ride a bit rougher. Roads aren't getting any better so I'm glad to have the 17".

 

[burdickjp]

The 19" would annoy me I think. Nice in the curves and good pavement but it has to ride a bit rougher. Roads aren't getting any better so I'm glad to have the 17".

I'd normally agree, but even the 225-55/19 has a decently tall sidewall compared to what I'm used to on the hatchbacks I've driven to this point or the stupid little sports cars I play with.

 

[Master Blaster]

Getting moving requires a lot of energy. Selecting the lightest tire/rim combination would obviously benefit. There is also a much smaller benefit to lowering rolling resistance for steady-speed down the road. I think that's why Ford put tires with shaved tread and reduced sidewall strength on from the factory. I have not seen any numbers quoted, but the heavier XL steelies should also cost some mileage compared to the aluminum factory rims on the other models. Getting larger rims and tires will obviously also increase mass, costing some mileage.

 

[Cherokee]

Op, you’re right on certain points like a lighter tire/wheel combo would spin up easier.
In the racing world every pound of Unsprung weight you shave off affects the vehicle the same as removing two pounds of suspended weight.

My 2024 Lariat has 18 inch tires.
I’ll go up ever so slightly when these Michelins wear out.
From my stock 225/65R 18’s to 235/65R 18. Treads have an effect
In my experience with 4 cylinder engines and my recent four years with my 2021 Bronco Sport base with its 3 cylinder dragon engine I always lost about 5% of my mileage due to switching to All Terrain tires. My stock 225/65R18’s work best right at 35 psi cold. Hot is often 39
My change to 235 wides will probably get me to run 34 psi since I have more tire volume.
I’ll use my tire tread depth gage to find out. It will take time.
We shall see. Was my 5% loss in efficiency due to the AT tires added weight, the tread design,
or going from 225 to 235 ? Or all of the above.
The 235’s were a half inch taller. Different roll out so who knows.

Op start a tire journal, throw it in your glove box. Record tread wear at different psi’s

On my Short wheel base (105”) Bronco Sport I had to run the tires one psi lower than what the door jam said or I’d wear out the middle treads a bit too fast.

 

[Gray Goose]

The short answer: Original size tire is best for fuel economy.
Post that goes into all the detail: https://www.tires-easy.com/blog/tires-affect-your-cars-gas-mileage/

 

[Timothyd]

I just picked up a 2025 Lariat. It came with 19 inch wheels and 225/55-19 tires. It looks like the less expensive trims have 17 inch wheels and 225/65-17 tires.

I expect that the taller sidewall on the 17" wheels would be a bit cushier on the road. I'm less familiar with tires available in these sizes. I'm curious which of the available sizes should get better gas mileage. I have a hunch it's the lighter wheels and tires, especially considering they're the same tread width. I'm wondering if anyone has anything more substantive than that, like is there a high efficiency tire available in a compatible size?

The stockers will probably be best but the environment (temperature), road conditions (hills, gravel/dirt), driving style, etc. will probably play a bigger part. Right now I'm running true sticky snow tires but I can't tell if they made a difference because the winter temps already affected it. Down to 40mpg but probably going to get worse as it's going to be below zero in the next couple of weeks and, 10 inches of snow tomorrow. Looking forward to spring!

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I just picked up a 2025 Lariat. It came with 19 inch wheels and 225/55-19 tires. It looks like the less expensive trims have 17 inch wheels and 225/65-17 tires.

I expect that the taller sidewall on the 17" wheels would be a bit cushier on the road. I'm less familiar with tires available in these sizes. I'm curious which of the available sizes should get better gas mileage. I have a hunch it's the lighter wheels and tires, especially considering they're the same tread width. I'm wondering if anyone has anything more substantive than that, like is there a high efficiency tire available in a compatible size?

If this is your first Hybrid, use the EV Coach & Brake Coach to teach you how to get more use of the Electric portion of the vehicle. This will very likely improve your overall mileage more than obsessing over minor MPG differences of different wheels and tires.

Even with the worst wheel & tire combos and driving habits, be happy with the fact that, even on a bad day, your truck is getting better MPG than any other (non-fully electric) truck being sold in North America.

 

[Timothyd]

If this is your first Hybrid, use the EV Coach & Brake Coach to teach you how to get more use of the Electric portion of the vehicle. This will very likely improve your overall mileage more than obsessing over minor MPG differences of different wheels and tires.

Even with the worst wheel & tire combos and driving habits, be happy with the fact that, even on a bad day, your truck is getting better MPG than any other (non-fully electric) truck being sold in North America.

Yes! Just look at the jacked-up, 30" mud tired, empty bed, full size gas hog passing you up and realize you paid 1/3 the price and are getting 4 times the MPGs.

 

[Tim d]

I just picked up a 2025 Lariat. It came with 19 inch wheels and 225/55-19 tires. It looks like the less expensive trims have 17 inch wheels and 225/65-17 tires.

I expect that the taller sidewall on the 17" wheels would be a bit cushier on the road. I'm less familiar with tires available in these sizes. I'm curious which of the available sizes should get better gas mileage. I have a hunch it's the lighter wheels and tires, especially considering they're the same tread width. I'm wondering if anyone has anything more substantive than that, like is there a high efficiency tire available in a compatible size?

The bigger the wheel diameter and narrower the tire gets you the best mileage. Acceleration and driveability suffers at some point obviously.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

The bigger the wheel diameter and narrower the tire gets you the best mileage. Acceleration and driveability suffers at some point obviously.

Look at the big skinny tires BMW put on their I3 for mileage.

Almost as skinny as the old Volkswagen bug tires.
Internet source BMW
BMW i3 tires were designed to be "skinny" (narrow) primarily to maximize the car's range by reducing rolling resistance, which is crucial for an electric vehicle; the tall and narrow tire design minimizes friction with the road, allowing the car to travel further on a single charge.

 

[Bobby Chapman]

Mine are 245-45-20, with motiv 20" rigor wheels from discount tire. Getting on highway ,26 to 33 m.p.g.'s. City 24 to 26 m.p.g.'s. 2.0 ecoboost

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I just picked up a 2025 Lariat. It came with 19 inch wheels and 225/55-19 tires. It looks like the less expensive trims have 17 inch wheels and 225/65-17 tires.

I expect that the taller sidewall on the 17" wheels would be a bit cushier on the road. I'm less familiar with tires available in these sizes. I'm curious which of the available sizes should get better gas mileage. I have a hunch it's the lighter wheels and tires, especially considering they're the same tread width. I'm wondering if anyone has anything more substantive than that, like is there a high efficiency tire available in a compatible size?

I recently purchased continental true contact tour 54 in 225/60/r18 for my 2022 lariat. $178 each 80k mile tire, heat activated tread claimed to be optimized for milage, mpg, good traction rain and light snow. I stayed with stock size but 235/60/r18 with H103 rating were $210(+/-). Am not keeping mpg figures but appear to be getting about same as OEM. The tour54's come in 19" also but are 40's so the stock radius is reduced about 1 inch. These are a new line so more sizes should be available in a year or two, so maybe r20 size may be coming. The 235/60/r18 have 29.1" radius and if they were mounted on rotary formed rims would be a good combination weight. Just check load capacity of the new rims.

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