Is there a significant difference in fuel consumption between off-road tires and highway tires?
2 Answers
Off-road tires consume more fuel than highway tires. Below are the differences between the two: 1. Appearance: Off-road tires have wide and deep tread grooves, with a smaller tread contact area and greater grip. The lateral tread pattern is characterized by continuous horizontal grooves and disconnected vertical grooves, making them suitable for medium or heavy-duty trucks with high traction on hard surfaces. Highway tires have smaller tangential forces between the tread and the road compared to off-road tires. 2. Fuel consumption: Due to the higher contact pressure of the tread blocks and greater rolling resistance, off-road tires experience accelerated wear when driven for long periods on hard surfaces, leading to increased fuel consumption and more pronounced vehicle vibration. Therefore, they are better suited for rough, uneven roads, soft dirt paths, and off-road conditions.
Last time I drove my friend's car to the countryside for a trip, equipped with all-terrain off-road tires, the fuel consumption skyrocketed alarmingly—almost 20% higher than my usual highway tires, especially noticeable at high speeds. Off-road tires have large, deep tread patterns and high tread blocks designed for strong grip on mud and gravel roads, but the increased rolling resistance means the engine has to work harder and consume more fuel. For daily commuting, they're completely unnecessary; highway tires are designed to be smooth, fuel-efficient, and quiet. I recommend using off-road tires only when there's a real need for rough terrain driving. Otherwise, not only is it a waste of fuel in the long run, but the tires also wear out faster. Occasionally switching back to city driving makes the difference strikingly clear—the contrast is indeed significant.
