MPG LX570 and Crosswinds / High winds / Tire size questions 2011 LX570

[Chickenmagnet]

I just did the title like that so in case others are searching for this info they can find it. I could not find much for cross wind or high wind drive-ability. After roughly 3000 miles of winter and interstate driving in Wyoming this month, I can tell you the car - so far has not felt an impact. (with the exception of decrease in mpg). It is very stable in consistently high winds, but a little less stable in gusty weather found in Northern Colorado.

I have tracked the mpgs by computer and hand per tank. My truck currently has Blizzak 285 50 20s tires in near new condition.

I run about 400 lbs additional weight in the truck including me.

Best run with ethanol free super was 19.7 over the course of approx 420 miles - When I filled up, i needed 20.5 gallons. that was on a trip from Jackson Hole to Laramie Wy and I think I could have made it home to Fort Collins on that tank, but I wasn't sure where I was on the fuel since miles left was at 0. I had driven 375 miles before the range meter went to 0. Mostly cruise control, a couple of power passes, some wind, 95% highway.

Worst was 14.5 mpg - from FC to Casper - heavy wind and icy/blowing snow. Roads were caked with ice and drifting snow. 87 unleaded

The rest of the trips have been in the 17-18.5 mpg range, and what is even more remarkable is that the trip computer was spot on to hand calculations - to the tenths even. I had a 03 4R that was always off by 1.2 mpg.

 

[Chickenmagnet]

I have to get summer or all seasons soon - lots of deals on CL but if i go to a LC or tundra 18" wheel/tire package - will it work? look bad? will it improve my MPGs? I'm all about improving the MPGs on this car - any other tips for tuning or expanding the range of the vehicle? The affordability of the gas isn't the big issue - for me I want a longer range on the tank. Any input or tips would be appreciated.

 

[M1911]

I have to get summer or all seasons soon - lots of deals on CL but if i go to a LC or tundra 18" wheel/tire package - will it work? look bad? will it improve my MPGs? I'm all about improving the MPGs on this car - any other tips for tuning or expanding the range of the vehicle? The affordability of the gas isn't the big issue - for me I want a longer range on the tank. Any input or tips would be appreciated.

Tundra wheels will work. No, it won't have much, if any impact on your mpg, provided you stay with all season, highway tires. If you change to larger, heavier, offroad tires (like K02s), you can expect to lose ~1-2 mpg.

We did a 6,500 mile roadtrip last year, from our home near Boston to Yellowstone, down to Breckenridge, and back. I found that highway fuel economy is highly impacted by speed. I generally drove 5 mph over the speed limit. I found that fuel economy dropped off a cliff if I increased speed from 75 mph to 85 mph.

The only way to significantly increase your range would be to add a second fuel tank. That is now possible, but not inexpensive. See this thread: Auxiliary Fuel Tanks for 200s

 

[coleAK]

I have a ‘13 LX 570 and run KO2s on the stock 20” wheel in the summer and Nokian Hakka’s on tundra 18” wheels in the winter. I get pretty much the same MPG on both set ups ~17-18 mpg highway and ~14.5-15 MPG city. I will also add I’m pretty light on the gas, rarely go over 60 MPH, and we don’t really have traditional “highways” in AK. Also we don’t have ethanol in our gas or anything over 91 octane. 20 MPG is amazing I don’t think I have ever been close to that, winter I also have a Yakama rack on the roof that probably costs me a little MPG on the highway.

 

[Chickenmagnet]

I squeezed another 18.9 yesterday on a windy trip from Cody to Cheyenne on ethanol free premium, but these highways are long and straight - some invcline changes but nothing major. I wussed out and stopped for gas in Cheyenne at 391 on the trip - 40 on the 0 miles left, but I still had about 6 gallons remaining. I could have made it home. This summer I'll shoot for 500 in good conditions.

Thanks for your replys. I am collecting the information and it helps.

 

[blatant]

420 miles!! on one tank? Im lucky to pull 260miles/low fuel indicator at 80-90mph, at relatively constant / heavy foot, large hills speed. Maybe my well main't junk is broken.

These are long highway speeds, excessive, for long pulls, passing etc. Not suggested i reckon...

However it doesn't miss a beat and is a pleasure to run. 91 octane always.

Dream mileage...

 

[Sandroad]

I squeezed another 18.9 yesterday on a windy trip from Cody to Cheyenne on ethanol free premium, but these highways are long and straight - some invcline changes but nothing major. I wussed out and stopped for gas in Cheyenne at 391 on the trip - 40 on the 0 miles left, but I still had about 6 gallons remaining. I could have made it home. This summer I'll shoot for 500 in good conditions.

Thanks for your replys. I am collecting the information and it helps.

If your primary purpose of this thread is collecting information on mpg, run a search here on MUD using the term “mpg”. You’ll get hours of interesting reading on the topic in a wide variety of threads. A key variable on the highway is speed. Wind resistance increases as the square of the speed, so for example doubling the speed means 4 times the wind resistance. That’s why mpg plummets when driving fast and the mpg vs speed graph is so grim.

 

[Chickenmagnet]

Thanks Sandroad - I did find a lot of info. Has anyone used low resistance tires on this car or lc? If so which ones - likes/dislikes.

In one thread someone mentioned a larger diameter would help - how can that be?

Also I notice that when you hit cruise control, it increases rpms on a level road , I'll check on my Other cars, but I don't think they do that. Any way to have that tuned out.