Tire height or weight, which will be more noticable?

[montypower]

Tire weight seems to play the largest role in MPG. The increased diameter will effect power and braking but not economy so much. On my Isuzu truck... I went from 32" BFG KM2s (265/75/16) to 33" BFG KM2s (33x10.5r15) both had the same tread width measurement. The tire diameter increase was a bit over 1". Gas mileage increased 1-2mpg! Now, I can achieve the same highway mileage as stock (20-21mpg)! The combined tire/wheel weight was reduced 5lbs even with the larger 33" tire. That's 20lbs of combined un-sprung weight! Obviously, increasing tire width will hurt economy too...

 

[Frostymug]

Goodyear Dura Tracs are available in 2 or 3-ply sidewalls depending in load rating and size. As an example the 265/75R16’s are available in both C load range with 2-ply sidewalls and E load range with the 3-ply sidewall.

I haven’t tested the tires rubber hardness, but I believe the Dura Trac’s are a softer compound than the BFG AT and will work better in cold temps. Also my experience with BFG AT tires is that the rubber hardens up after a few years which, drastically reduces snow performance.

I just purchased a set of Dura Tracs so we’ll see how they perform.