I drove all the way to Moab (twice) on my 31" Pro Comp Xterrains. I like the look, and don't mind the faster wear (though they seem to be holding up well). Yes, the mileage might be better than your 33"s. However, your odometer will be off more, so you might be getting better mileage than you think. The noise issue is one I can't comment on because my tires are pretty quiet. I think it has to do with the directional pattern of the tread. I say you should show off your cool VX, don't go back to the original tires!