Toyota Tundra Gas Mileage--what do you get???

[bowler1]

Hi,
This is somewhat a follow up to a previous post I made. I am considering a Tundra 5.7 (probably a 2012 or 2013).

What gas mileage do you get with yours--City, Highway, and towing (and with what weight trailer)?

I tow a 5k pound trailer (dry weight).

I love my 06 Tundra but hate the 7mpg I get towing and it is a bit lacking on power (older Tundra with the 270hp 4.7)

thanks!

Matt


thanks
Matt

[Ron3rd]

One of the other advantages to the LT tire is they have a higher load rating.

[music69]

CaLBaR wrote:
I went to the LT tires because I do tow the trailer on some long distance trips such as Ontario to Florida and some 500 - 600km trips around the province. Everything I read said that towing would be more stable. I found the Tundra a very stable platform for towing even with the OEM BF Goodrich P-metric tires. In the 2 years towing with the LT tires, cross winds, head winds, trucks going by I don't really see the difference. The Tundra is as stable as it was before, no better no worse. I don't find the ride too much stiffer either. I put on Michelin M/S 2 LTs. From my perspective and after towing with the LTs for about 8000 km, I would not pay the extra next time around. Maybe it is just that the Tundra is more stable than other TVs from the factory that the LTs did not make a significant difference, at least from my perspective. And I have them inflated per Michelin at 55 PSI and go to 60 when towing. Others may have noticed a difference but not from my experience anyway.

Thanks for the summary of your experience. I'm not sure that LT tires really help with "stability", so much, as with that wallowing feeling you can get on a softer tire. It's mostly independent of the vehicle. You can rock on a truck w/ most p tires (one hand pushing on bed) and get the tires rolling around pretty good. Can't do it as easily w/ LT tires, but it still moves around some. Stability (i.e., the trailer not wagging the truck) is more a function of tongue weight and distribution (by my experience). I haven't put LT tires on a 1500 before, but I was considering it next time... thus me asking. Good to hear first hand comparisons.

[checca]

6mpg to 12mpg towing my RV @ 65mph ... 13mph to 19mph mixed city/highway. If I drive with the instant MPG turned on the dash and the Garmin driving coach on ... I can regularly pull out 19mpg.

[CaLBaR]

music69 wrote:

CaLBaR wrote:
I would not be looking at a 3/4 ton truck. The Tundra does just fine with my trailer so no sense going bigger. Did put LT tires on when I changed but kind of regret that right now. Don't really think it was worth the extra money.

I'd like to hear more about the tire experience too. Is towing w/ the LT tires any better?

I went to the LT tires because I do tow the trailer on some long distance trips such as Ontario to Florida and some 500 - 600km trips around the province. Everything I read said that towing would be more stable. I found the Tundra a very stable platform for towing even with the OEM BF Goodrich P-metric tires. In the 2 years towing with the LT tires, cross winds, head winds, trucks going by I don't really see the difference. The Tundra is as stable as it was before, no better no worse. I don't find the ride too much stiffer either. I put on Michelin M/S 2 LTs. From my perspective and after towing with the LTs for about 8000 km, I would not pay the extra next time around. Maybe it is just that the Tundra is more stable than other TVs from the factory that the LTs did not make a significant difference, at least from my perspective. And I have them inflated per Michelin at 55 PSI and go to 60 when towing. Others may have noticed a difference but not from my experience anyway.

[RVJimofOregon]

I keep records for mpg for every fill and mileage to date mpg so the numbers are correct. I get 15.5 running around and 8 mpg pulling a 8,000 travel trailer. Just started using plus and it looks like I will get about 1/2 mpg more but need a few more tanks to be sure.
Hope this helps and I have 7,800 miles on a 2014.
RV Jim

[bowler1]

Sorry...did not mean to sound sarcastic. I do realize that they will add some rotational weight and therefore negatively affect gas mileage. I just was curious about how much....

[music69]

My question re: LT tires was off topic... sorry 'bout that. LT tires are heavier (for the same tire), so they affect mpg by adding rotational mass. A low resistance LT tire can still have similar or better economy than an all-terrain style p-metric though.

[bowler1]

How do LT tires affect your gas mileage???

[music69]

camp-n-family wrote:
If you go to an LT tire you will have a choice of ratings. If you stick to a "C" rated tire you will improve towing ability over the stock P rated tires with minor affect on ride quality. Going to a D or E rating can severely decrease ride quality and is kind of pointless as the ratings for those tires would be way above what the rest of the truck is capable of anyways.

The problem I've found is that the tires I'm interested in only come in p-metric and LT/E (specifically, Michelin MS/2 and AT/2). The weight of the p-metric in my size is 42 lbs ea, where the LT/E is 48 lbs. Not much different. From their load tables, the E tires can be run at the same pressures as a C, but you're right that I'd never run full pressure in LT/E tire on a 1500 truck. Likely 60 psi max. The cost on these particular tires isn't a lot different either.

[camp-n-family]

I'd like to hear more about the tire experience too. Is towing w/ the LT tires any better?

Towing with LT tires is usually better as they will have higher load ratings, higher pressures and stiffer sidewalls leading to a more stable platform. The downside is that your ride may suffer due to the stiffer tire.

If you go to an LT tire you will have a choice of ratings. If you stick to a "C" rated tire you will improve towing ability over the stock P rated tires with minor affect on ride quality. Going to a D or E rating can severely decrease ride quality and is kind of pointless as the ratings for those tires would be way above what the rest of the truck is capable of anyways.

[Ron3rd]

Stephen W wrote:
Just drove my 2013 company Tundra Limited from Pensacola to Oklahoma & back. Had about 1500# in bed going to OK, drove 5mph over speed limit and got 16.2 mpg. Empty bed on return trip, same speeds and got 18mpg. Used cruise control as much as possible.Towing loaded flatbed trailer (12k #) at posted speed limit, it does about 9mpg, but load is not much higher than top of tailgate. Wish it had a 32 gallon gas tank to increase range.

Your results are pretty typical.

[music69]

CaLBaR wrote:
I would not be looking at a 3/4 ton truck. The Tundra does just fine with my trailer so no sense going bigger. Did put LT tires on when I changed but kind of regret that right now. Don't really think it was worth the extra money.

I'd like to hear more about the tire experience too. Is towing w/ the LT tires any better?

[CaLBaR]

music69 wrote:
A related question for Tundra owners... would you buy your truck today to tow your camper, or skip to a HD (3/4 ton)? Forget GVWR worries for this question. I say that, because I know those calculations well enough, and also know that Toyota, GM, Ford, and Dodge don't rate these things the same way. You also already have what you have, and know how it performs. I'm just looking for honest feedback for how your current truck is handling *your* camper, and if you find yourself trying to beef it up for stability (tires, springs, or whatever). If you didn't already have your truck, would you be shopping 3/4 tons instead?

I would not be looking at a 3/4 ton truck. The Tundra does just fine with my trailer so no sense going bigger. Did put LT tires on when I changed but kind of regret that right now. Don't really think it was worth the extra money.

[Stephen_W]

Just drove my 2013 company Tundra Limited from Pensacola to Oklahoma & back. Had about 1500# in bed going to OK, drove 5mph over speed limit and got 16.2 mpg. Empty bed on return trip, same speeds and got 18mpg. Used cruise control as much as possible.Towing loaded flatbed trailer (12k #) at posted speed limit, it does about 9mpg, but load is not much higher than top of tailgate. Wish it had a 32 gallon gas tank to increase range.