Apples to apples efficiency comparison -- factory 33s vs. LT 34s tires, fixed course

HammaMan said:

I had a great deal fall into my lap on some wheels and tires. Outside of the pressure that was in them and not realized until the TPMS finally registered a few miles into this test, you can't really ask for a better comparison. The 2 runs were nearly identical, including braking points for ICE shutdown. Tire size changed in BCM and trans reset, only 10 miles or so driven post relearn before these results. The timing of the runs is testament to repeatability.

22 Powerboost, test weight 6500lbs, 87 octane
Factory, 20" 275-60-20, 38psi Hankook AT2
BFG AT Revo 3 lt275-65-20 34psi 34.1" (under inflated, possible mileage discrepancy)

Test course:
From stop accelerate in eco mode to 65mph, run some distance, slow for a light, cruise control back to speed, stop at a light.
Accelerate back to 65mph, speed increase to 75mph, stop at light, make U turn (*2) and accelerate back to 75mph, stop for light photo results.
Terrain is 18 rolling hills, solid boost on climb, at least 2 10-to-9 downshifts.

Stock

LT

*2 - reset other trip meter at the u-turn
Stock

LT (cruise braked shutting down ICE prematurely approaching light)

The trip continued through various traffic and lights, the results are less conclusive due to traffic / light conditions outside of repeatability.

Stock

LT

I think under-inflation was playing a roll here. There's only 23 miles of fuel in the tank and 40 is needed for the test, changing fuels so can't re-run with proper inflation to see what changes. 93 e0 has more energy and will likely show increase in efficiency, combined with proper inflation the results will no longer be like-for-like. This is the best repeatable test I could run with identical variables (wheels are same, just different colors). Hopefully this informs someone in the future of what to expect. These are on the light side of LT tires and have the factory tread width of 275mm.

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Polo08816 said:

So the fuel economy appears very similar between a standard load versus load range E tire?

I'm of the opinion of the huge fuel economy drops people see are when moving from a factory sized highway oriented tire to a much larger mud terrain load range E tire.

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StoneGray22 said:

Very nice! Now, you're gonna repeat this for us every weekend, right? Hahaha.

What are your thoughts on the Bridgestones as far as noise and ride quality?

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HammaMan said:

Noise is unchanged, ride is impacted due to being LT. Unless someone has a very specific need for LT like sharp rocks hitting the sidewall, I strongly suggest using XL where available, SL else. You just can't beat the ride of the lighter tires and they provide plenty of capacity even for towing at 5klb per axle. As to why XL -- the factory hankooks are XL and can take 51 psi which is good to reduce tire squat (not to be confused with suspension squat) when heavily loaded / towing. If max pressure is 44 psi, it's SL, if it's 50 psi, it's XL (some XLs say SL, but the max pressure indicates if it's XL)

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Polo08816 said:

So I think only one OEM tire is XL and that's the General Grabber HTS 60:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=2023&autoModel=F150+4WD+SuperCrew&autoModClar=275/60-20,+Max+Trailer+Tow+Pkg&width=275/&ratio=60&diameter=20&sortCode=60065&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=Q&minLoadRating=S&performance=ALL

I would agree with the XL but I don't think there's that many "good" options for the 275/60/20 tire size.

That's why I would consider moving up to a 275/65/20 load range E tire.

The factory tire size of 275/55/20 for the Expedition is a different story. You get two good XL options which are the Continental TerrainContact H/T 117H and the new Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 117T.

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HammaMan said:

Recon grappler is an easy XL 50psi choice for factory size for AT. I'd run it but if you do anything over 1 inch front leveling, the factory 33" just look like too little of a diameter. Their 34" version becomes SL 44psi. Are you only interested in HT tires?

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nitrobass24 said:

Thanks for sharing this @HammaMan I am about to switch over to the Pirelli A/T in 275/65/20 116H. These are supposedly optimized for Elec vehicles as they come on the Rivians as an OEM tire.

How was changing the tires size using Forscan? Any advice here having recently done this?

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nitrobass24 said:

Thanks for sharing this @HammaMan I am about to switch over to the Pirelli A/T in 275/65/20 116H. These are supposedly optimized for Elec vehicles as they come on the Rivians as an OEM tire.

How was changing the tires size using Forscan? Any advice here having recently done this?

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HammaMan said:

I had a great deal fall into my lap on some wheels and tires. Outside of the pressure that was in them and not realized until the TPMS finally registered a few miles into this test, you can't really ask for a better comparison. The 2 runs were nearly identical, including braking points for ICE shutdown. Tire size changed in BCM and trans reset, only 10 miles or so driven post relearn before these results. The timing of the runs is testament to repeatability.

22 Powerboost, test weight 6500lbs, 87 octane
Factory, 20" 275-60-20, 38psi Hankook AT2
BFG AT Revo 3 lt275-65-20 34psi 34.1" (under inflated, possible mileage discrepancy)

Test course:
From stop accelerate in eco mode to 65mph, run some distance, slow for a light, cruise control back to speed, stop at a light.
Accelerate back to 65mph, speed increase to 75mph, stop at light, make U turn (*2) and accelerate back to 75mph, stop for light photo results.
Terrain is 18 rolling hills, solid boost on climb, at least 2 10-to-9 downshifts.

Stock

LT

*2 - reset other trip meter at the u-turn
Stock

LT (cruise braked shutting down ICE prematurely approaching light)

The trip continued through various traffic and lights, the results are less conclusive due to traffic / light conditions outside of repeatability.

Stock

LT

I think under-inflation was playing a roll here. There's only 23 miles of fuel in the tank and 40 is needed for the test, changing fuels so can't re-run with proper inflation to see what changes. 93 e0 has more energy and will likely show increase in efficiency, combined with proper inflation the results will no longer be like-for-like. This is the best repeatable test I could run with identical variables (wheels are same, just different colors). Hopefully this informs someone in the future of what to expect. These are on the light side of LT tires and have the factory tread width of 275mm.

@Administrator added images of wheels / tires to replace generic

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