Questionwhat is the original tires that go on a '98 dodge durango v8 with 4 wheel drive. even though i dont go off road i want to put the original tires back on to help with the gas milage.
AnswerBrian,
It's a little unclear, but if you mean the size, make, and model.... well, 2 thoughts. First is that the make and model info is pretty obscure, and there are gaps in the record - and one of the gaps includes your model year.
The second thought is that the original make and model tires are likely no longer available - or at least in the exact configuration that came from the assembly plant - which means that the fuel economy characteristics will have changed for the worse.
But we can do something about that. The first step is to find the original tire size - which is located on a sticker – commonly called the tire placard - usually located on a doorpost or in the glove box – but sometimes it is located in the trunk or on the fuel filler door. The tire placard will also tell you the proper pressure for that tire size.
BTW, it doesn't matter who makes the tire or what pressure is listed on the tire's sidewall, if the tire size is the same as the placard, then the pressure listed on placard is also appropriate.
According to Tire Guides, a 1998 Dodge Durango originally came with either P235/75R15 XL or 31X10.50R15LT. So we need to know what the placard says.
But if fuel economy is what you are interested in, you should be on the lookout for tires where the design is geared towards fuel economy - and there are quite a few out now.
Just be aware of 2 things:
1) Tires with good fuel economy properties get that property by sacrificing traction and/or wear. The reverse is also true! So if you shop for tires with high treadwear ratings, it's almost a given that they will not have good fuel economy.
2) If the original tires for your truck were P235/75R15 XL's, then be sure you get XL (Extra Load = 108 or 109 Load Index) That type has enough load carrying capacity - the others do not.
