Choose the Right Tires to Save Gas

Posted Dec-11-08 at 12:00 AM By Jackie

A variety of factors go into the fuel economy of a car. Although tires are not often the first feature that energy-conscious consumers look into when measuring the gas efficiency of a vehicle, tires do indeed contribute to the way in which a car uses fuel. The role of tires in gas efficiency has been a hot topic of discussion in the past: President-Elect Obama made the claim in April 2008 that tire inflation boosts gas mileage -- a remark that was initially mocked, but turns out to be supported by reports indicating that proper inflation can improve mileage by 3 percent. Other variables in fuel efficiency include tire weight and rubber make. 5 percent of gas is used up by the rolling resistance, or energy output, of a tire. Low-rolling resistance tires perform the best in government fuel economy tests because they require the least amount of push to move. Consumer Reports researched the affects of low-rollers on gas mileage, calculating that about $300 a year can be saved by opting for tires with the best rolling resistance. California led the way for state-wide support of a fuel economy initiative, implementing a gas-efficient tire program in summer 2008 that establishes minimum efficiency standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Of the approximately 26 million passenger vehicles currently registered in California, 21 million vehicles are not running on low-rolling resistent wheels. The California Energy Commission projects that if these cars used tires with a 10% lower rolling resistance, the result would be a "statewide savings of 252 million gallons of fuel, $882 million, and 2.7 million metric tons less CO2 emissions annually."

Posted in: Auto industry news
Back to Top
Accepted Credit Cards
Powered By Zomix Content Management Systems copyright © 2025
Cookie Consent

We use cookies to improve user experience, and as a functional part of the site. We may also analyze website traffic. For these reasons, we may share your site usage data with our analytics partners. By clicking 'Accept' you consent to store on your device all the technologies described in our Privacy Policy.
Accept