I just put my tires on last week, what I have noticed is a slight drop in mpgs. I have a 6 speed shiftamatic with 245/65 s, I drive 42 miles on highway each way to work, and also notice a minimal acceleration difference at high speeds. However jumping up as large as I did that's more than expected, I anticipated more. As Far as torque off road I don't expect to nice much difference. Though I could be wrong

 

I noticed a drop in mpg but then I realized my speedometer was off 10miles per 100, which brought my mpg back up after factoring that in

 

I did not consider my odometer being off that would make a difference in my MPGs

 

Our 2008 was the 5 speed MT and when I wanted to pass on the highway I always down shifted to 4th gear. I used to go up the ski area access roads in 3rd gear up to 45 mph but did not go over 4000 rpm.

 

FD1: My slightly bigger and much heavier tires has affected acceleration and offroad ability. I'm at ~62 lbs per tire and ~28" diameter. Rocks in some places I could mash the pedal and get over I now have to get a little bump to get over. Also have heavier bumpers and tons(or almost...lol) of recovery gear. Try resetting your throttle maps to see if that helps temporarily, it'll relearn and try to become more fuel efficient but for a couple days it'll be peppy.

 

So practically larger tires are just for looks?:wow:

Since its worse for torque... and cruising acceleration


( speedometer variance is small, speedometer says 100km/hour and GPS says 103 Kmp/hour so just 3% variance)

I am not that much concerned about MPG since its not than big difference and in any event it was something I was told and decided to go forth.

But none mentioned the significant loss in power having an already underpowered engine at low rpm getting worse....

 

Ground clearance is better with larger tires. Also most tread options only go so small, my KM2's aren't even sold anymore at the size I bought them, they discontinued that size. I also am ok with the weight as that means it's a thicker sturdier tread. Where I am there are a lot of places with sharp mine tailings that took chucks out of my old tires. I might look into alloy wheels but that's at the center of the rotating mass so won't make much of a difference

 

Changing the diameter does change the overall ratio however the more important thing Is the weight of heavier tires has more of an effect on killing the power and torque of the limited power we have.

 

I know the speedometer is off just a hair over 3mph, don't notice a difference from a dead stop only a Slight change in high speed acceleration (70+mph).

 

The only reason I could see someone getting "bigger" tires would be to gain some ground clearance for offroad performance. Larger tires tend to be more aggressive as well.

I've found what I think is the perfect balance of aggressive and light weight. 17lb wheels with 35lb tires.

I have ran 22lb wheels and 40lb tires, 62lb that was too much.

my 19" tire/wheel combo is 27lb wheel and 32lb tire = 59lbs Doesn't seem that bad, but i'm so used to heavy tires that's probably why

 

Bigger tires=more ground clearance, but less torque and hp going to the ground. For off-road applications, this is where bigger tires shine.

Wider tires=wider footprint (in most cases, better traction). These tires are best for loose sand, or if you have a need for that grip (i.e. racing)

Taller tires will throw off all of your stock specs proportionally. Your speedo will be slower by a few mph/kmh, your hp and torque to the wheels will be lower slightly, and you may even experience less MPG's/KPG's. It also puts a little more strain on your drivetrain, mostly in your transmission. Even though the largest oversize you can go on the Patriot is 30", or 3" increase, that little bit does have that kind of effect on your MK.

If you don't use your MK to off road much, or if you don't NEED taller tires, I'd suggest against getting them. In the long run, they'll hurt your wallet.

 

Wider tires=wider footprint (in most cases, better traction). These tires are best for loose sand, or if you have a need for that grip (i.e. racing)

False: http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/white_papers/tire_selection_rev1.html

 

30" tires don't increase ground clearance by 3" The way it's calculated is, 1/2 of the difference in diameter of the wheel = increase in ground clearance.

28" stock to 30" would = 1" increase in ground clearance.

 

Sorry, I didn't specify, 30", or 3" increase in tire diameter...

 

I measured my tires at just a little over 27"...maybe I'm reading a different tire size than you are?

 

I guess I stand corrected. I'm basing this off of personal experience. The few times where I had a wider footprint, I fared better than running in the sand with skinny's.

Maybe it was just luck.

 

Wider is better at higher speeds on soft surfaces but air pressure plays a bigger role. I really learned a lot reading that article.

 

Good read! Looks like the author put a lot of thought into that!

 

There were a couple stock sizes guys. My 215/65r17's are 28", I think the base models came with 27" tires. In fact, the FD1 may have as well if you don't have the aluminum wheel package.

The article above is really good. I have seen it pop up in a few places and it dispels a few myths. Wider is not always better. We have plenty of guys that throw the widest tires they can find on their trucks thinking they'll be so much better offroad and they bog down so bad in mud and snow they may as well be in a patriot lol! Even if they have the power to turn them, they don't "flex" to contact the surface the same way a narrow tire does.

 

There were a couple stock sizes guys. My 215/65r17's are 28", I think the base models came with 27" tires. In fact, the FD1 may have as well if you don't have the aluminum wheel package.


You're correct...my steelies are 205/70/16, 27.30"

 

Jlutz what you doing this weekend should come check out my wheels I should have them on tomorrow

 

Possibly changing some fluids but other than that not too much. I'll come have a look cause I'm interested to see the new setup. Still looking around myself. Found a few options but we'll see. I still want to see if I can find a 0-offset rim in town. The online prices look great but after the conversion and shipping it kills it. A1 will sell me expensive mud tires as cheap as I can get cheap AT's online. I just have to find an aluminum rim or I will be eating the shipping anyway.

 

I run 225 65 17 geolander AT's and have noticed very minimal loss with these tires on my 17" factory wheels, However when I installed 17x8 soft 8 wheels at 38 lbs each without tire, I had a HUGE decrease in mpg and on highways it took way more power to keep it at highway speed. WAY TO HEAVY of a wheel and was my fault as for some reason when I purchased the wheels I paid no attention to what their weight was

 

Wheel and tire weight makes a huge difference on our little 4 cylinder Jeeps. I like having two set of wheels and tires. One light weight smaller tire on my light weight 17" wheels, and heavier bigger AT tires on my 16" steel wheels.

 

Nothing but positive here!!!

I am finding minimal to nill differences in MPG and torque from my stock 17's to my lift and alloy 16x8's and my Grabber A/T's @ 235/70/16.......but I didn't go crazy on the tire size.
The stock 215/65/17 SRA's weigh 28lbs. the Grabbers 235/70/16 weigh 33lbs and are just over 1" bigger in dia. the Pro Comp 16x8's...I'm not sure how much they weigh,and how much they weigh in comparison to the stock alloy 17 inchers....I know that the 16x8's do weigh more than the stockers...but by how much I don't know....what I do know is that my gas mileage(to my surprise)...is still excellent,my acceleration and torque seem no different...if it is it is imperceptible......The ride is so much nicer with the lift and wheel-tire combo(more tire sidewall),more ground clearance,and looks so much better...better in the snow,tracks nicer,more grip,I really like the grabber A/T2's...can't wait for the snow to clear out, and get this little rig out on some trails.epper:

Cheers,
Bill.

 

I have already installed the bigger tires about 6 months ago, I am just opening the discussion as to the REAL and not the PLACEBO effects of our choice

Off roadingwise It is well known that the patriot gets hard time

a) when need to climb a hill
b) when we have to cross sand - mud due to the insufficient torque (gets bogged down, stall of the BLD... etc discussed many times)

In both of these senarios the taller tires reduce the off road ability

So my practical conclusion on bigger tires:

1) larger tires have clearly reduced the patriot's off road ability

2) On the other hand it looks much better externaly

I donot consider off roading just going over gravel or some bigger rocks. Even a passenger car could do that irrespective of a 4X4 system, and the only advantage of the patriot on that is higher ground clearance and resistance to damage (better protected underbelly etc)

 

I'd like to argue the statement slightly, it's heavier tires that cause the issues offroad. It's possible to run larger tires while keeping the weight down. My 245/55/19 tires weigh 32lbs only 4 more than stock. The wheels are the big thing that makes larger tires heavier as it takes more material to make them, whether it be steel or aluminum.

No placebo, heavy tires kill offroad performance in cases where you are off camber on slippery terrain and the BLDs kick in.

 

Well for one thing I have a feeling I know the imitations of the Patriot..limitations in my mind are...off roading that won't bend or break parts.
If I wanted to do very serous offroading,and a lot of it, I'd buy a Wrangler...then if need be start beefing that up.

To be perfectly honest the lions share of driving my Patriot will do is highway,with mild,to sometimes moderate off road work,mainly to get me into some fly fishing spots,and, winter time driving the roads up here can be one hell of a challenge,at the best of times....the lifted and wheeled Patriot makes this a pleasure ......

........the mods I have done to my Patriot haven't negatively affected the drive ability of the vehicle, in fact,they have improved it.

The mods I have done have definitely improved it's off road capability's.... FOR WHAT IT IS.......a Wrangler it isn't.....a capable little 4x4 SUV it is.....even more now with the lift and wheels and tires.

Cheers,
Bill.

 

My new tires are magical, they have decrease the distance from my driveway to my work. It for years was 46 miles now it's 38 I'm amazed.

Lol

 

LOL!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,
Bill.

 

I usually track my trip fuel economy driving to work. Since it's really cold out and has been for a few days I was able to very roughly see the difference my lighter wheel setup made.

-25c 10kms to work mix of stop and go, some freeway driving. Vehicle was parked in heated garage both times prior to driving to work.

19" wheels weighing 59lbs = 13.1ish L/100kms
15" Wheels Weighing 52lbs = 11.7 L/100kms

7lbs doesn't seem to be a lot of weight but unspring weight that gets reduced makes a big difference, at least in my case.

 

Tyler did you happen to weigh your current wheel tire set up,both tire and wheel together???? Just curious as to the combined weight.

Cheers,
Bill.

 

I didn't weight them as a combo......tires were 35lbs I weighed them, didn't weight the wheels, but they are listed at 17, so combined 52lbs, stock sra combo is 46lbs