It is winter time up here in Alaska and I just recently bought a 1997 F150, super cab, 4x4. Up here, we use 'studded' tires in the winter to help with traction. My truck right now has 285/70/16 tires on it. But when I went to get studs, they didn't sell that size, and not sure if they even made them. I checked the manual and it looks like the truck came originally with 235/70/16, or as an upgrade could get 255/70/16.

I know many people here are looking to get as big of a tire as possible. I actually don't care. The truck is stock, and wondering if I should just go back to original size? Also, curious what either of these tires (235 or 255) would do to help/hurt my mpg? I only get about 10, so any help would be good. Of course, if the tires are not the original size, maybe the tranny is not geared right for those size tires and my mileage is actually different?

Thanks in advance.

 

Using smaller tires will not give you worse fuel economy. Probably better, by as much as 2mpg.

 

You'd be splitting hairs really, but going bigger does usually mean less mpg's. Going with the 255 would be a good choice all around, you don't want pizza cutters on this thing which aint good either. I did find going from 265/70/17 to 285/70/17 lost me almost nothing as far as I can figure, but you're needing the studded tires so you can't be as picky. I find though having Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor's are good in winter's around here, as are BFG AT/KO's and Michelin LTX M/S's.