A/T Or Highway Tires???
 

Hey everyone.

I've got a 96' XLT 2WD 2.3L styleside. I have an appointment to get tires put on today. I was debating wether to go with 215-75/R15 Highway truck tires, Or 235-75/R15 All Terrains since the difference in price is little.

The A/T tires have a 50,000 mile warranty, and the H/T come with 60,000 mile warranty. I do light towing and some work off-road.

My only concern is loss of gas mileage ( I only get 19MPG as it is ). Since it's a 2WD with a 4cyl engine it was reccommended that I get the 215-75/R15 since I actually went up an inch on the rims. My truck orriginally came with 225-70/R14 tires.

Can anyone give me any advice for a choice?

Re: A/T Or Highway Tires???
 

What is the work off road? Trails to camp or fire roads/no roads? Trails to camp such as maintained dirt roads, highway tires would be just fine. If you are looking at fire roads, I would go with the AT's.

Re: A/T Or Highway Tires???
 

As far as tire size, play with this site to get as close as possible to the stock tire diameter: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

The size you are looking to convert to will result in a 4.9% increase in speed compared to what is indicated. So if you would be traveling about 3 mph faster compared to your stock sized tire at a given speed (say 63 mph as opposed to 60 if the spedometer is saying 60 mph).

Most vehicles are actually traveling slower that what the speedometer indicates in stock configuration anyway. My CR-V is about 3 mph slower that what is indicated with it's stock tires (205/70R15) but has been corrected with the 215/75R15s that I run now. So I'm actually going the speed my spedometer says I am now.

A tire size change will also affect your odometer reading, mine is about 10 miles per 200 miles less now. Not a big difference but just so you are aware.

Re: A/T Or Highway Tires???
 

Most of the terrain in NC is sand. So most places I will go will be sandy. The H/T rated tires are actually for trucks and SUV s. They are more knobby than that of an A/T tire, but the A/T are just that much knobbier that I wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck. But what I have taken into consideration also is that I will be purchasing a winch soon.... So if i get stuck, as long as there's a tree or friend, i'll be ok

Re: A/T Or Highway Tires???
 

HAHA!! So I got the biggest slap in the face today.... I took my truck in and told them what i wanted. They write up the invoice and i run off until my truck is done. They called me and told me that my rim size was 14"... Not only did they not have the width tires in that size, but no one in town has 14" truck tires. Everyone only has touring tires... So I went with 185/70/R14 size touring tires. I get 75,000 mile warranty, And Ill just use my SUV for towing... Don't have to worry about losing gas mileage now... :joyman: