Tires effecting fuel milage - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rmasteller · #1 06-04-2004, 12:26 PM

I'm shopping around for a new set of OEM-sized sporty tires for my 1994 E420. One tire receiving rave reviews on the Tire Rack surveys is the BFGoodrich Traction T/A. Several survey respondents claimed these tires reduced their milage by 2-3 mpg. Does this make sense? Should this result be consistent with all cars & tire sizes, or would particular cars & tire sizes experience more dramatic mpg loss?

Thanks,

manny · #2 06-04-2004, 12:58 PM

I think many times people fiddle with tire sizes, increasing the rolling diameter ( thereby making the speedometer/odometer read slower ), and consequently observe, what they perceive to be a drop in mpg.

Wider than " normal " tires do tend to increase rolling resistance, which may be compensated for, to some extend, by increasing the pressure slightly.

KyGuy · #3 06-04-2004, 01:29 PM

I'm running these on my E420 and love them. 205's, 15". May upgrade to 16" later next year and would consider these meats at that time.

rmasteller · #4 06-04-2004, 01:39 PM

kyguy,

What fuel milage do you get with your E420 and the Traction T/A tires?

Are your 205 width tires on stock 8-hole wheels?

KyGuy · #5 06-04-2004, 02:28 PM

I've got no historical data on this. The tires were new (about 1K on them) when I purchased the car in Feb of this year.

I was in Spokane in March for an AAU hoops tournament with my oldest daughter. It's about 280 miles from Spook-a-loo to Seattle.

On the way home I set the cruise on 72 and had tanks with of 28 and 26.8 MPG.

When I drove the E320 home I didn't get over 27 on the 2,000 mile trip and mostly around 22.

rmasteller · #6 06-04-2004, 04:48 PM

So what you are saying is that the W124 E420 with Traction T/A tires gets better highway fuel milage than the W210 E320? That's amazing! I' very suprised that the V8 is more effecient on the highway than the V6 (or I6?).

Thanks for the feed back. Getting 26 - 28 mpg on the highway with the V8 and sporty all-season tires is what I'm looking for.

KyGuy · #7 06-07-2004, 11:47 AM

Yes, confused the bejeezes out of me as well. I figured the I-6 would out economize the V-8.

Just got back for a soccer tournament (younger daughter) in Vancouver, Washington (aka VanWa). Without cruise on the way down I averaged about 25.2. On the way home in weird weather with the cruise off and on it was 27.6.

I have to go back down there next weekend and will take the E320 and do a comparison.