For Better Miles Per Gallon Options

[legendofkeele]

I recently bought 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe GL 2.7, it has the tire size of 235/70/16R. Can sombdy help me in suggesting which tire size would give me more miles than the suggested miles per gallon ie., 24 m/gal.

thanx for all the suggestions.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Don67]

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately tire size will not improve fuel economy in any measurable way; all it will do is mess up your speedometer and other calibrations.

The single biggest determinant of fuel economy with the Santa Fe is driving style. Accelerate smoothly in the city, and look ahead so you can avoid using the brakes as much as possible. On the highway, keep it 50-60 mph for best efficiency. It makes a big difference.

As has been echoed many times in this forum, the Santa Fe is a 4,000 pound brick and there is no magic bullet for changing that. Get used to it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/57.gif)

[canderson]

... and look ahead so you can avoid using the brakes as much as possible.

Amen. Getting this thing started off a rolling stop is a killer. I'm actually surprised that the city and highway loop numbers don't diverge even more.

[PoMansAWD]

Even if you could fit larger diameter tires on a SF GL, it would bring your highway speed RPMs down some, but the added weight, higher ground clearance and speedo/ODO being off outweigh any benefits in going larger. I average ~21mpg tank/tank w/ my 2008 GLS AWD. You could do slightly better at a steady, very long 55-65mph run, other than that you're going to get the same MPG every other crossover, small SUV and minivan gets. high teens to low 20s. Averaging 24mpg tank/tank is a stretch.

Joel

This post has been edited by PoMansAWD: Oct 24 2009, 04:29 PM

[UniR]

I recently bought 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe GL 2.7, it has the tire size of 235/70/16R. Can sombdy help me in suggesting which tire size would give me more miles than the suggested miles per gallon ie., 24 m/gal.

thanx for all the suggestions.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

225/75s should help...

215/85s would rock if it weren't for them weighing 40+ pounds instead of 30.

The best thing you can do is get a ScanGauge so that you get immediate feedback for all phases of your driving. You get nothing idling excessively, it sucks getting up to speed (3-9mpg), but once your into top gear (4th for you, 5th for me) at lower speeds you're laughing. Don't be afraid to use the manumatic to upshift before intended upshifts and use it to lose speed and even shut off the fuel injection. The tranny has a warranty, brakes don't and just make heat.

Get into top gear and stay in top gear and minimize speed changes and keep it on the flats cause these move a lot of weight up and down the hills.

I may go for slightly taller (and possibly narrower) tires at some point along with the Eibach springs because the Santa Fe really isn't sprung for downhill twisties with dips in them and I'm reminded off that every time I come back over the mountains from Santa Cruz.

Tires are a highly debated matter around here, but I find the Santa Fe rolls far better with more air in the tires, and easier rolling translates into a lesser load for the engine. Use common sense and also read up on this.

Use the other car if it is more efficient. I take the TSX if it isn't the full family or I need the space or the other car is out. Especially to Santa Cruz where you have to climb and then brake or downshift all the way down the other side of the mountains. Paddle shifters rock for that.

Santa Fe rocks when we have a full back seat or doing airport duty.

I'd rather have a 4 banger wagon with a stick (or diesel sportwagon) but I want to have a ton of legroom for me and enough for a tall kid in behind me and can't afford a German E series or 5 series wagon. It also should fit a 65cm bike inside the back so it is lockable in a pinch with the wheels left on (for convenience).

This post has been edited by UniR: Oct 24 2009, 05:52 PM

[Volfy]

If a significant portion of your driving is stop and go traffic, then the tire size is not so important as the tire weight. You'd be surprised how much different brand and model tires - even of the same size - vary in weight. It could be as much as a few pounds. Now this may not sound like much, but higher weight of the tire means higher rotational inertia that your engine must work against in acceleration and deceleration. In racing circles, you will often hear that 1 lb saved on tire/wheel equals 2-4 lbs saved on the rest of the car.

Probably more so than the wheel, added tire weight sits at the outer most edge of the rotating mass - with the highest rotational velocity. Saving weight there benefits both performance AND fuel economy.

Ultimately, once you picked the car, it's driver behavior that has the most influence on mpg. Slowing down and driving smoothly so you use the brakes as little as possible will net you far more mpg gains than any modification or equipment you can throw at your car.

Whatever you decide to do to improve your mpg, make sure it does not compromise safety. A set of high-performance tires might lose 0.1mpg to low-rolling resistance "Eco" tires, but being able to stop from 60-0mph in 115ft instead of 125ft could mean the difference between a close-call and a major accident. To boot, better handling could also allow you to avoid an accident, rather than survive one.

I all all for saving a few bucks at the pump, but at what cost?

[david-paul-1]

I recently bought 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe GL 2.7, it has the tire size of 235/70/16R. Can sombdy help me in suggesting which tire size would give me more miles than the suggested miles per gallon ie., 24 m/gal.

thanx for all the suggestions.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

In addition to what you have already been told, especially the inertia of rolling weight when accelerating and stopping, the cost of new wheels and tires could buy many, many gallons of gasoline.

If you are a serious tree hugger and really hate using more gasoline than the Prius bear, I would suggest you get rid of the Santa Fe. It is not a "green" vehicle.

If not, then just enjoy one of the finest vehicles ever built for the price. At least it is not a Hummer. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grin.gif)

David <><

[kram2181]

First of all, as many other posters have already stated, any change in tire size may affect your odometer, speedometer, and fuel efficiency calculator. Secondly, any tire change size is going to probably have a miniscule change in your fuel efficiency. Now I'm no scientist here, but something tells me that you would have to drive tens of thousands of miles before ever coming remotely close to realizing your gas savings compared to shelling out the money to replace the tires on your Santa Fe.

And finally, let's be honest here, people...if you are THAT concerned about fuel efficiency, then shop around for a different type of vehicle. Not to be rude, but there are way too many posts on this forum with people complaining about fuel efficiency of the Santa Fe. Look, it's no secret: the expected mpg is posted on the window of the vehicle when you buy it and it is available on the internet on thousands of different sites. It is no groundbreaking revelation that driving style and conditions are the biggest contributors to your fuel efficiency, so maybe instead of blaming the vehicle you should evaluate your own driving style first. Not to pat myself on the back here, but I get 25mpg AVERAGE with my Santa Fe by keeping speeds low, finding routes without many traffic signals, keeping tires inflated, etc. I am more than pleased with the fuel efficiency of it. I was expecting to get MAYBE 20 mpg average when I first got the vehicle, which even that would be good. I don't know what people expect when they get their Santa Fe, but a lot of people on here think the vehicle is somehow going to get the mpg of a darn Prius...that's like getting an Accent and wondering why it's not going 0 to 60 in 5 seconds. My suggestion is to enjoy the already great value of the Santa Fe compared to other vehicles with its amenities and be happy with the nice-looking, well-driving, well-made vehicle that you have.