The truck or SUV you drive and the accessories or equipment upgrades you add to your vehicle can say a lot about you, and the ability to customize your pickup truck allows you to express your own individual identity — but how do those upgrades affect your truck’s performance? Lift kits and larger off-road tires are popular upgrades for your Ford F-150 and other models in the Ford lineup, and many Tampa-area drivers want to know how a lift kit and off-road tires affect fuel economy and towing. Brandon Ford is here to help answer your questions and help you find your dream car, truck, or SUV in the Tampa, Clearwater, or St. Petersburg area.
The Real-World Impact of Lift Kits and Off-Road Tires on MPG and Towing Capacity
Lift kits and larger 35-inch tires look awesome — who are we to deny that — but they do have an impact on fuel economy and towing capacity when you get behind the wheel and start driving. While these impacts may not be massive, they will add up and have a real-world impact that you need to be aware of when you decide to purchase a lifted and customized Ford vehicle at Brandon Ford.
Here is a better look at how these customizations will impact driving performance:
How Do Lift Kits Impact Your MPG?
Lift kits add bold style to a pickup truck or SUV and provide added ground clearance when you are on rocky trails — but they may also have a negative impact on fuel economy. It is important that you understand the impact a lift kit can have on fuel economy before you spend your money on a lifted Ford F-150. When you install a lift kit, it may lower your fuel economy by as much as 0.5 MPG – 4 MPG that is due in part to increased wind drag and heavier mechanical parts.
How Do Lift Kits Impact Your Towing Capacity?
When you add a lift kit to your Ford F-150, it is important to know how it will impact the towing capacity of your pickup truck. The reality is — a lift kit does not physically lower or increase your towing capacity — but it can impact the safety of towing heavy cargo. This impact will also depend on the type of lift kit you add to your Ford truck or SUV. A body lift uses spacers to increase ride height without impacting the suspension, and will not impact towing capacity. A suspension lift replaces factory springs and shocks and requires a drop hitch for towing, and many professionals believe that safe towing capacity is lowered by 10% for each inch of lift.
How Do Large Off-Road Tires Impact Your MPG?
The aggressive tread on off-road tires will improve traction in mud, sand, or snow and larger 35-inch tires paired with a lift kit will deliver maximum ground clearance on extreme terrain — but with increased weight and rotational mass, increased rolling resistance, decreased aerodynamics, and speedometer errors these tires will decrease fuel economy. The data suggests that larger off-road tires can reduce your MPG by as much as 1% – 3%.
How Do Large Off-Road Tires Impact Your Towing Capacity?
When you outfit your Ford Bronco or your Ford Expedition with larger off-road tires to increase capability on the trail, it will reduce your towing capacity. Larger 35-inch tires and off-road tires with a more aggressive tread contribute to a loss of torque at the wheels that is based on gear ratio and tire size. For example — adding 37-inch tires without adjusting the axle gears can lead to a 10% – 12% loss of torque at the wheels. In addition to the loss in torque, larger tires have more flexible sidewalls that contribute to a lower load capacity and reduced braking power.
Are you considering a lift kit or larger 35-inch tires for your Ford F-150? It is important to understand how they impact real-world performance and you may be asking — how do a lift kit and off-road tires affect fuel economy and towing? We have the answers right here at Brandon Ford in Tampa, FL.