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Reduce Gas Spending With The Right Tires

by: JoanYankowitz
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Word Count: 579

I'm sure you're concerned with saving as much money on gas as possible these days. I'll bet you didn't realized that having the right tires can greatly improve your fuel consumption.

You're probably paying more than you should for gas because your tires are hurting your fuel consumption. Add to that the fact that it's hard to know which tires will be more efficient, and it's a recipe for poor fuel mileage.

Hopefully, this will be soon be recified, because the federal government has decided that tire manufacturers must start labeling tires for fuel efficiency. This program would create a national labeling system that would rate the energy efficiency of tires.

So far, however, there has been little progress made. Critics say the industry is stonewalling, but the tire manufacturers disagree. They say they have spent millions on research and development of more fuel-efficient tires.

Tires produced today are far more efficient than tires were in 1975. Rolling resistance, which is the power that is lost as rolling tires flex and change shape, has been reduced by as much as 50%. Radial tires have also improved tire efficiency, and advances in tread patterns and the use of new, lighter rubber compounds have made a big impact.

But tire efficiency can still vary greatly, and fuel economy can be affected. Experts hope the mandated minimum standards will help reduce the amount of gasoline used in the US by billions of gallons.

Although you won't be able to figure out which tire offers the best fuel efficiency until the minimum standards are put into place, you can use these Department of Motor Vehicle tips.

Keep your tires properly inflated according to the manufacturer's recommended psi. Studies show that properly inflated tires can improve your mileage by 3.3%. Never test pressure in a hot tire in the summer or in a cold tire in the winter.

If you're in the market for new tires, think about replicating your original brand and model. Auto manufacturers usually choose the most efficient tires possible for their new cars.

Don't use flashy wheels on your car or truck. Oversized wheels and rims weigh more, and wider tires have more surface area touching the road, creating more friction. Both reduce fuel efficiency.

Don't replace tires until you have to. Worn tires are actually more efficient than brand new ones. Turn a penny so that Lincoln's head is upside down, and then stick the penny in the groove of the tire tread. If you can see the top of his head, it's time to replace the tires.

Don't fill tires with nitrogen instead of air. There's still no definitive data showing that filling tires with nitrogen improves either mileage or tire wear. Until the data is in, it's probably not worth the extra expense.

If your tires show uneven tread wear, you may have alignment, balance or parts problems: If one edge of your tire is more worn than the other, and has a "feathered" appearance, you have an alignment problem. If the tire appears to be "cupped," you may have damaged parts or you may not be keeping your tires properly balanced. Any of these situations will reduce your fuel efficiency.

Don't buy rain tires in a dry climate. Off-road tread or water-shedding can burn more fuel. Buy snow tires in a cold climate to improve efficiency.

Now you've learned how choosing the right tires can save you money and improve your fuel efficiency. As gas prices continue to increase, you'll want to learn even more gas saving tips.