The Impact of All-Terrain Tires on Fuel Economy

It’s possible to imagine there are very few people on this planet who enjoy wasting money for no good reason. Even the artists who throw hundred-dollar bills at cameras in their music videos generally stop to pick the stuff up after the director yells ‘cut’.

Same goes for expenses relating to our cars. With inflation climbing the charts and items appearing to cost more than ever before, it’s important to make each gallon of fuel stretch as far as humanly possible.

First, for anyone not in the know, we’ll give a quick primer on all-terrain tires. This is a popular choice of rubber for owners of SUVs and pickup trucks since the hoops generally provide and acceptably smooth drive on pavement, the natural home of these vehicles, but also permit a dose of extra traction when things get gnarly. Examples of the latter could be intentional like muddy off-roading or simply part and parcel of where one lives such as deep snow.

In other words, they’re a solid pick for all-terrains, geddit? It doesn’t hurt that most of these tires have an aggressive design, both on the sidewall and in the tread pattern, which matches the look for which many owners of these rigs are seeking. Good examples of this type of tire include established players like the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 and Yokohama Geolandar A/T or options from market newcomers like the Sailun Terramax A/T.

Before diving into a conversation about these tires and fuel economy, we’ll harken back to Grade Nine science class for a few minutes. A vehicle’s energy efficiency (gasoline, electricity, or diesel) is dictated by many factors but a major piece of that puzzle is the rolling resistance of its tires. This refers to the amount of effort required for a tire to keep rolling once it is set in motion; generally, energy consumption increases as the amount of effort expended rises, just like it takes a great deal of extra effort for a human to push a square object compared to one which is spherical.

Tire tread patterns hew to this reality through rolling resistance. All-terrain tires will have deeper blocks in their treads, creating aggressive tread designs which are ideal for biting into dirt and other off-road surfaces but create extra rolling resistance on smooth surfaces. Since more energy is being expended by the vehicle powertrain to push the tire forward and keep it rolling, fuel consumption will increase after switching to all-terrain rubber compared to standard passenger car tires.

How much of an increase? Measurements taken by third parties in blind tests suggest consumption could jump by up to 3 percent compared to a less aggressive tire, a number which is not insignificant. Assuming a driver travels 15,000 miles per year getting 20 mpg and paying $4.00 per gallon for gasoline, basic math tells us all-terrain tires could cost roughly an extra $100 per year to run in such a scenario.

This doesn’t mean all-terrain tires aren’t worth the cash – not by a long shot. Those new Terramax line of A/Ts mentioned earlier are dandy for anyone adventuring out onto an off-road trail, to say nothing of their benefit in mildly snowy conditions. Getting stuck miles from the trailhead thanks to subpar rubber is an inconvenience at best and a day-ruiner at worst, especially if yer far from cell service over which to call for help. Weigh the benefits and trade-offs before firmly deciding one way or the other.

It's worth mentioning the amount of research and development that goes into modern tires, especially since most drivers (even gearheads) give little thought to the things until it’s time for a replacement. Advancements in rubber technology, particularly refinements of the different compounds being used to build tires, have erased some of increased rolling resistance which used to be an accepted part of running A/Ts on a rig.

Still, one cannot change the laws of physics; with their chunkier tread patterns, all-terrain tires will always require more energy to push down the road. Such is the trade-off one accepts for rugged off-road performance (and rugged off-road looks). For some buyers, forfeiting a few decibels of road noise and spending an extra couple of bucks at the pumps is worth it, knowing they have the capability to scamper up that escarpment.