#1: Most 4x4’s are only available with high ratio gearing, and most traffic on our nation's interstate highways moves at an average cruising speed between 70 and 80 mph.

 #2: When equipped with 16" tires, this puts the operational efficiency out of range at those speeds. For instance, in a diesel truck, the ideal operating rpm range for efficiency is usually between 1800 and 2200 rpm, and most factory trucks' engines will turn between 2700 and 3000 rpm at those speeds. This increases engine wear and decreases fuel economy. There is a similar situation with gasoline engines.

 #3: The overall height of a typical 16” tire on a 4x4 is about 30 inches. 245/70x19.5" tires are 33” tall and 255/70x22.5" tires are 36" tall. Using the larger tires will reduce rpm by 10 to 20 percent. 

#4: Most vehicle owners are only getting a practical 25,000 miles from their tires before seeing a degradation in tire performance. For premium tires, that’s a $1,000 bill every 25,000 miles. 

#5: The typical wear miles on 19.5" tires for most operators are between 80 and 100 thousand miles and the wear miles on 22.5" tires are about 200 thousand miles.

#6: If you check with the Dunlop tire dealers you will find that their tires have a four-year casing warranty. Even if you were to put 500,000 miles on these tires in four years, having had them re-capped as necessary, the warranty would still be valid. 

#7: The ride comfort using the larger tires is better than the little 16” tires because of their larger diameter and bigger footprint. 

#8: Now let’s add this up. In the average life of a truck you save buying new tires seven times (that’s $7,000). You reduce wear on your truck from 10 to 20 percent. When considering the cost of replacing your truck, these savings average about $10,000. 

#9: You save fuel because you are now operating in the ideal performance range of the vehicle. This could save you between $1,000 and $3,000. An investment now could save you approximately $20,000 over the life of your vehicle.