Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
I thought of posting this in one of the active tire threads about the Cooper ST tires, or in the general modifications section, but this is more about the car, set-up, and its capabilities than just the tires currently on the platform.
The Test
Highway/Freeway road trip from Northwestern Nevada, over Donner Pass on I-80 to Sacramento, CA, Highway 99 South to the rural Visalia area. I have driven these roads many times in many vehicles. Today we left a bit earlier than usual and didn't encounter the typical stop-n-go traffic in the Sacramento metro area that hurts fuel economy.
After climbing up to the 7,200-ft Donner Pass from our starting elevation of 4,800-ft, the trip is largely downhill into the great valley of California. Yes there are many smaller hills to climb in the mountains but the elevation change from 7,000+ to almost sea level tells the story, we didn’t need lots of throttle to maintain a decent road speed much of the time. It will be more expensive to climb back up in Part 2. While I’m making sure I give the mountains and elevation its due for helping with the MPG, I have driven the same section of road fast and less smoothly in many vehicles several times and it costs extra fuel even when down hill.
The Vehicle
2006 V8 4Runner with full-time 4WD, OME suspension, bumpers, winch, skids, etc., weights 5,440-lbs wet, with no passenger. Add about 400-lbs for the two occupants and their overnight bags. Stock 3.73 gears, Cooper ST 255/85R16 tires with 32-PSI cold.
Cruise Control was used very little because of the Toyota programing that maintains speed at all costs, downshifting more that is desired. Cruise was used on flat ground for short distances to give the right leg a break.
The car uses Red Line synthetic oils throughout. 5W-30 in the engine, and 75w-90 in the differential and T-case. Transmission has the factory Toyota stuff inside.
Speed & Technique
The target speed was 65 or more MPH, but there was plenty of times when I drove faster, and a little time when I drove slower. I allowed the road speed to slow on grades, a few times as low as 55-60-MPH for very short distances, and on the downhill sections used gravity to my advantage and would accelerated to 70-75. Seventy-five was less common but 70 was fairly common on the steep downhill sections, it’s only about 2,000-RPM when the torque converter is completely locked-up. After hitting the California low lands 65-68 was about where I kept it for the majority of the miles.
I was hoping to buy and have a Scan Gauge installed before this trip, but it didn’t happen. Next time. I have not checked the odometer error with this new set of Cooper ST tires, but have checked it with a couple other sets of 255/85 on this car and the odometer has been 9-10% slow. I used 9%, which should be very close.
This was a pure highway trip. Filled up the night before, drove 2-miles from the gas station to home before leaving Friday AM. We made two stops during the trip, and didn’t stray too far from the freeway exits.
Distance Traveled: 318.71 miles
87 Octane Fuel Used: 15.902 gallons
MPG: 20.04
The MPG display on the stock trip computer was as high was 19.4 after coming out of the mountains. We then drove about two hundred more miles and lowered to 19.0 (flirting with 18.9). I experimented a bit with 70-MPG and 60-63 MPH for a few miles on the flat. The 70+ started eating fuel and it showed on the display. 60 is too slow to drive on the highway and 62-63 didn’t seem to be helping MPG enough to keep it there. The engine was turning about 1800-RPM at 66-MPH which seemed to work well.
Part 2 (Monday)
On the return trip on Monday I project that we will only get 15-17-MPG returning via the same route if I am able to drive in a similar fashion and speed. This will depend on weather, traffic, and if we are late for getting home. If I’m only able to squeeze out 15-MPG while climbing back up the mountains (very likely) out total trip average will be 17.5-MPG!
The Test
Highway/Freeway road trip from Northwestern Nevada, over Donner Pass on I-80 to Sacramento, CA, Highway 99 South to the rural Visalia area. I have driven these roads many times in many vehicles. Today we left a bit earlier than usual and didn't encounter the typical stop-n-go traffic in the Sacramento metro area that hurts fuel economy.
After climbing up to the 7,200-ft Donner Pass from our starting elevation of 4,800-ft, the trip is largely downhill into the great valley of California. Yes there are many smaller hills to climb in the mountains but the elevation change from 7,000+ to almost sea level tells the story, we didn’t need lots of throttle to maintain a decent road speed much of the time. It will be more expensive to climb back up in Part 2. While I’m making sure I give the mountains and elevation its due for helping with the MPG, I have driven the same section of road fast and less smoothly in many vehicles several times and it costs extra fuel even when down hill.
The Vehicle
2006 V8 4Runner with full-time 4WD, OME suspension, bumpers, winch, skids, etc., weights 5,440-lbs wet, with no passenger. Add about 400-lbs for the two occupants and their overnight bags. Stock 3.73 gears, Cooper ST 255/85R16 tires with 32-PSI cold.
Cruise Control was used very little because of the Toyota programing that maintains speed at all costs, downshifting more that is desired. Cruise was used on flat ground for short distances to give the right leg a break.
The car uses Red Line synthetic oils throughout. 5W-30 in the engine, and 75w-90 in the differential and T-case. Transmission has the factory Toyota stuff inside.
Speed & Technique
The target speed was 65 or more MPH, but there was plenty of times when I drove faster, and a little time when I drove slower. I allowed the road speed to slow on grades, a few times as low as 55-60-MPH for very short distances, and on the downhill sections used gravity to my advantage and would accelerated to 70-75. Seventy-five was less common but 70 was fairly common on the steep downhill sections, it’s only about 2,000-RPM when the torque converter is completely locked-up. After hitting the California low lands 65-68 was about where I kept it for the majority of the miles.
I was hoping to buy and have a Scan Gauge installed before this trip, but it didn’t happen. Next time. I have not checked the odometer error with this new set of Cooper ST tires, but have checked it with a couple other sets of 255/85 on this car and the odometer has been 9-10% slow. I used 9%, which should be very close.
This was a pure highway trip. Filled up the night before, drove 2-miles from the gas station to home before leaving Friday AM. We made two stops during the trip, and didn’t stray too far from the freeway exits.
Distance Traveled: 318.71 miles
87 Octane Fuel Used: 15.902 gallons
MPG: 20.04
The MPG display on the stock trip computer was as high was 19.4 after coming out of the mountains. We then drove about two hundred more miles and lowered to 19.0 (flirting with 18.9). I experimented a bit with 70-MPG and 60-63 MPH for a few miles on the flat. The 70+ started eating fuel and it showed on the display. 60 is too slow to drive on the highway and 62-63 didn’t seem to be helping MPG enough to keep it there. The engine was turning about 1800-RPM at 66-MPH which seemed to work well.
Part 2 (Monday)
On the return trip on Monday I project that we will only get 15-17-MPG returning via the same route if I am able to drive in a similar fashion and speed. This will depend on weather, traffic, and if we are late for getting home. If I’m only able to squeeze out 15-MPG while climbing back up the mountains (very likely) out total trip average will be 17.5-MPG!
Last edited:
