Editorial Comment:

Clearly a larger tire will give you increased gas mileage because with each revolution of the drive wheels, the car will go a further distance. In the case of this change the increase will be over 14% which might be considered a worthwhile benefit.

However, this improvement comes with certain disadvantages -- or costs, some of which may make the improvement more costly than the benefit.

First, being a larger tire, it is likely to cost more to buy, and if it is not a very popular tire, that difference itself may be considerable.

Next, you will need to have to contend with a larger tire in your wheel wells and some cars may not allow enough room that will permit this much of an increased tire to operate without rubbing. You'll need to, at least do a test fitting.

Although you'll get greater fuel economy, you will experience a decrease of power of the same magnitude and, depending on your driving style and the conditions you operate under, this could be vital.

And finally, you'll have an error in your speedometer of some 14% and if you are in the habit of driving right on the limit, you're either going to start getting speeding tickets or have to mentally calculate the lower speedometer reading that will keep you below each posted speed limit.

TG