24.5" vs. 22.5"

Depending on your suspension and brake pots lo pros or 22.5 may not let you run triple rail tire chains

 

If I need tire chains, I don't need to go there.

 

You won't be trucking long either

 

I have to agree with longhood on this especialy considering where you live. If you don't want to chain then perhaps a move South of I20 may be in order. LOL

 

you proved yourself wrong. a numerically lower gear is actually a higher gear meaning you go faster.

 

http://www.bridgestonetrucktires.com...r_specs.asp#1a says that 24.5 has lower rolling resistance than 22.5. But I think that extra hight adds plenty of air resistance which is equally important to mpg as overall rolling resistance

 

Not only that, but going from a 22.5 to a 24.5 reduces the gear ratio (Numerically) and in most cases will help fuel economy.

My first company truck at the carrier I am leased with now, I started in a Pete 386 that had a C15, 9 speed and 3.55 rears. The truck was originally used by a company doing local runs only. Had very low mileage. But for OTR use,.. it turned way too many RPMs, and used way too much fuel, even at only 60 mph.

Company owner swapped to a 13 spd and then swapped to 24.5 wheels and tires. Truck rolled very comfortably at 1400 rpm doing 65 mph, MPG increased from 4.7 to 6.1 after that. Where before it was turning almost 1550 RPM at 65 mph.

I think for a large Cummins or Cat, going to the larger wheel combo is feasible as they have to torque to run comfortably like this. A smaller Detroit, Volvo or Paccar motor may not see the same results as they need more RPM to run efficiently.

Hurst

 

I prefer 11r22.5 tires for the simple fact they are cheaper than a 11r24.5 to buy. plus where I live they are popular with the dumptruck community. so I get more for the casings when I buy new.

 

What's a tire chain?

 

I just checked with local TA in Prescott, AR: new 24.5 low pro from 390 to 570, used 24.5 low pro for 230. Thats about the same price as 22.5 low pro. So not really that much if at all price difference. 24.5s will wear out slower than 22.5 by at least 10% cause they have longer circumference. I just bought a trailer and only now realized it has 24.5s ( now i got 22.5 steers, super single drives and 24.5 trailer. im ###### and I really think that generally 24.5s are worse for fuel economy because they put you up by 1.5 inches into the air increasing air resistance.