All-terrain tires often cut gas mileage by 2–10%, with tread bite, weight, pressure, and speed shaping the drop.
All-terrain (A/T) tires trade some fuel economy for tougher tread and stronger casing. Swap from a mild highway tire to a chunkier A/T and you’ll usually see MPG slide.
This guide gives you a clear range, the reasons behind it, and a simple way to estimate your own MPG hit before you spend money.
How Much Do All Terrain Tires Affect Gas Mileage? Real-World Range
Most drivers notice an MPG drop right after the swap, then a steady pattern once the tires settle in. When the new tire is heavier, wider, and more aggressive, the hit climbs. When the size stays close to stock and the tread is a “mild A/T,” the hit stays modest.
| What Changes With A/T Tires | Why Fuel Use Rises | Common MPG Change |
|---|---|---|
| More open tread blocks | More squirm and heat in the rubber each rotation | -2% to -6% |
| Extra tire weight | More energy to spin the tire and get rolling from stops | -1% to -4% |
| Wider section width | More rolling drag and often more air drag at speed | -1% to -5% |
| Taller overall diameter | Gearing change can push the engine off its sweet spot | -0% to -4% |
| Lower rolling-resistance design (rare in A/T) | Less energy lost to casing flex | 0% to -2% |
| Lower tire pressure than placard | Sidewall bends more, footprint grows, drag rises | -1% to -6% |
| Added lift, bumper, rack, or skid plates | Extra weight and more air drag can stack on the tire hit | -2% to -12%* |
| More highway driving at 70+ mph | Air drag climbs fast, and A/T tread adds more loss | -2% to -8% |
*That last line isn’t “just tires.” It’s the common combo once people build a trail-ready setup.
Why A/T Tread Can Cost MPG
Fuel economy drops when your engine has to push against more resistance. With A/T tires, most of that comes from rolling resistance: energy that turns into heat as the tire flexes and the tread blocks squish and rebound.
NHTSA notes a handy rule of thumb: a 10% change in tire rolling resistance can shift fuel economy by around 1–2%. That’s a general relationship, not a promise for your truck, but it shows why tire choice matters.
If you want the official wording, skim NHTSA’s page on tire rolling resistance and fuel economy.
Tread Block Squirm
Highway tires have tighter patterns. Many A/T tires use wider voids and chunkier blocks. Each block flexes as it hits the pavement, then snaps back. That flex burns energy.
Weight And Rotational Energy
A heavier tire acts like a heavier flywheel. Each time you leave a stoplight, the drivetrain has to spin that mass up again. If your route has lots of starts, the weight side of the equation shows up fast.
Size Changes And Gearing
Going up a size changes effective gearing. Your transmission’s shift logic and torque curve decide whether that helps or hurts MPG.
Rubber Compound And Sidewall
Many A/T tires use a tougher compound and a stiffer carcass so the tread doesn’t chunk on rocks and the sidewall resists cuts. That toughness can raise rolling resistance, and the extra plies add weight. You’ll notice it most on short trips where the truck stops and starts a lot.
All Terrain Tires Affect Gas Mileage In City Miles And Highway Miles
City miles punish weight. Highway miles punish drag and tread losses. That’s why one driver reports a 1 MPG change and another reports 4 MPG on the same tire model.
Stop-And-Go Driving
If your route is short trips with lights, the added tire weight and stickier tread compound take a bigger slice. Each launch needs more throttle, and the truck stays in lower gears more often.
Steady-Speed Driving
At a steady 55–65 mph, the MPG hit often settles into a repeatable number. Push to 70–80 mph and the loss can jump because air drag rises fast.
How To Estimate Your Own MPG Hit Before You Buy
You don’t need lab gear to get a solid estimate. You need a baseline and the patience to run the same routine twice.
Step 1: Lock A Clean Baseline
- Fill the tank to the same pump shutoff point.
- Reset Trip A, then drive your normal week.
- Refill at the same station when you’re near the same fuel level.
- Divide miles by gallons on the receipt.
Step 2: Repeat After The Swap
Run the same routine once the new tires have 200–300 miles. This reduces noise from fresh mold release and new-tire feel.
Keep the test boring. Use the same tire pressure, route mix, and cruising speed band. Big changes in idling can skew results.
Step 3: Convert MPG Change To Percent
- (Old MPG − New MPG) ÷ Old MPG × 100 = percent drop
Say you averaged 20 MPG on your old tires and 18.5 MPG on the new set. That’s (20 − 18.5) ÷ 20 × 100 = 7.5% down.
What Else Skews The Numbers
If you test in different conditions, the tire swap gets blamed for things it didn’t do. Keep these steady so your result means something.
Tire Pressure And Load
Pressure swings change rolling resistance. Set cold pressure with a good gauge and match the door-jamb placard for normal road driving. The Federal Register’s Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Information Program explains how lower pressure raises deformation and fuel use.
Also keep vehicle load steady. A bed full of gear, a rooftop box, or a hitch rack changes fuel use on its own.
Alignment And Brake Drag
A toe-out alignment scrubs the tires across the road. If the steering wheel sits off-center or the truck drifts, get alignment checked.
Brake drag can mimic “bad tires.” After a drive, a wheel that smells hot or feels hotter than the others is a clue. Get it inspected.
Speedometer And Odometer Error With Taller Tires
If you increase tire diameter, your odometer may undercount miles. That makes MPG math look worse than it is. Use a GPS app to check distance, or correct the reading with your tire size ratio.
Ways To Cut The MPG Loss Without Losing Off-Road Grip
You bought A/T tires for gravel, mud, snow, rocks, or job-site roads. You can keep fuel use in check with choices that don’t blunt the tire’s main job.
Pick A Mild A/T If You Live On Pavement
Some A/T tires lean toward daily driving with tighter block spacing and less void. They still have tougher sidewalls than many street tires, but they roll easier and stay quieter.
Watch the tire’s load range, too. An E-load tire on a light SUV can ride stiff and add weight you don’t need. If you don’t tow heavy and you’re not carrying a full bed of tools, a lighter load range can keep MPG steadier.
Stay Close To Stock Size
If you want the look of a larger tire, check weight first. Two tires can share a size but differ by 8–12 pounds each.
Use The Right Pressure For The Load
Run placard pressure for normal road use. Air down only for low-speed off-road use, then air back up before pavement.
Mind Your Speed And Throttle
A few mph less on the highway can claw back part of the loss. Smooth throttle helps, too, since heavy tires punish hard launches.
What The MPG Hit Can Cost You Each Year
MPG changes feel abstract until you turn them into dollars. The table below shows added fuel use over 10,000 miles at $3.50 per gallon for your budget.
| Old MPG To New MPG | Extra Gallons Per 10,000 Miles | Extra Cost At $3.50/gal |
|---|---|---|
| 25 → 24 (-4%) | 6.7 | $23 |
| 25 → 23 (-8%) | 13.9 | $49 |
| 20 → 19 (-5%) | 13.2 | $46 |
| 20 → 18 (-10%) | 27.8 | $97 |
| 15 → 14 (-6.7%) | 47.6 | $167 |
| 15 → 13.5 (-10%) | 76.9 | $269 |
| 12 → 11 (-8.3%) | 69.4 | $243 |
When The Trade Feels Worth It
Gas mileage is one part of the choice. If you drive rutted dirt roads, tow on gravel lots, or deal with winter slush, the traction and puncture resistance can save headaches. If your truck stays on smooth pavement, the extra bite may sit unused while you pay for it at the pump.
Good Fits For A/T Tires
- Mixed pavement and dirt roads
- Frequent rain, slush, or packed snow
- Construction sites and farm roads
- Light trail use where a street tire gets cut
Cases Where A/T Tires Often Feel Like Overkill
- Mostly highway commuting
- Urban errands with tight parking and lots of stops
- Small crossovers that don’t see rough roads
A Simple Checklist For Your Next Tank
If you’re already on A/T tires and want to see if you can gain MPG back, run this list over the next week.
- Set cold tire pressure to the door placard.
- Clear out heavy gear you don’t use.
- Check for a dragging brake or a hot wheel.
- Plan one combined errand run instead of three short trips.
- Hold a steady highway speed that matches traffic without racing.
- Track two fill-ups with the same method, then compare.
One last note: if you’re trying to answer “how much do all terrain tires affect gas mileage?” for your own rig, measure it over at least two tanks. One tank can get skewed by wind or traffic.
If you’re shopping right now, write your current MPG down. After the swap, repeat the same method and you’ll have a clean answer to “how much do all terrain tires affect gas mileage?” built on your own miles.