Needing new tires

[jamelar]

2010 Aveo Hatchback. The stock 185/60R14 tires are ready for replacement. A fella that's worked with tires for decades suggests I replace with 185/65R14. Claims it would slightly increase gas mileage. The circumference difference according to the comparison chart at
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-...5R14/185-70R14
would be 3.1% greater. Anyone with an opinion about this?

[Thymeclock]

2010 Aveo Hatchback. The stock 185/60R14 tires are ready for replacement. A fella that's worked with tires for decades suggests I replace with 185/65R14. Claims it would slightly increase gas mileage. The circumference difference according to the comparison chart at
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-...5R14/185-70R14
would be 3.1% greater. Anyone with an opinion about this?

I am old, and I can remember an old commercial that said (I'm paraphrasing) 'the only thing between you and the road are your tires.'

Theoretically your gas might improve, slightly. But a fatter tire profile has more rubber on the road and (usually) provides better traction and handling.

I've learned the hard way that having tires that can perform well in dire situations are worth more than tires that might theoretically save me a few cents in gasoline used. When I was a young man, virtually every accident I ever had was due to having less than optimal tires in a bad weather situation.

That's my personal opinion...