Tires can help save gas

Don't overlook your tires when it comes to saving fuel. Underinflated tires, for instance, require more energy to roll along, which eats up more gasoline. They also cause a tire to wear more quickly.

Use a tire gauge at least once a month to keep them inflated at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. That figure is typically found on a placard on the driver’s door jamb, but check your owner's manual for the location on your car and for the proper procedure. Don’t go by the maximum inflation pressure embossed on the tire's sidewall.

When buying replacement tires, look for a model with low rolling resistance—basically a measure of how easy it is for a tire to roll down the road. Consumer Reports measures and rates the rolling resistance of every tire we test, except for winter tires. Our tests show a 1- to 2-mpg difference in rolling resistance between the best and worst replacement tires. (Watch the video on how we test tires.)

Don't let rolling resistance be your only criterion for choosing a tire, however. On some tires, lower rolling resistance can compromise all-weather grip and braking or cornering capabilities. We recommend you select the model that provides the best overall performance for your needs, and then consider rolling resistance as a tie-breaker.

Choosing the right tires and maintaining them at the proper pressure can save you about $100 a year at today's gas prices.

See our Ratings of car, truck, and winter tires and find the best one for your vehicle. Plus, see how we test tires.

Comments

[PMC the 1st]

The problem with low-resistance tires is they save fuel. A good thing in, say, 1956, but a bad thing today.
Let's assume that all the drillable oil in current global oil reserves will be eventually used up (this is so certain to happen it's almost guaranteed). Let's assume further that mileage requirements drastically increase in all cars sold and driven in America.
Let's also correctly assume that cars driven in developing countries do not have the stringent emissions requirements that they have in our country.

If people in this country go with tires that have low rolling resistances, this means there will be less fuel consumed in this country, because low rolling resistance tires conserve the use of fuel. And if less petroleum is used in this country, that means more fuel will be used in developing countries, where emissions controls are less stringent. Since more fuel is being used with less of a control on the emissions of the used fuel, it stands to reason that the developing countries will add a greater share of pollutants to the atmosphere that would not have been added had that fuel been used in a car taht meets the more stringent American emissions requirement.
Therefore, low rolling resistance tires contributes more to environmental pollution than do high-resistance tires.

[james weigand]

surely you are not serious.what concerns me are the misconceptions about CORN produced ethanol.consumers union should test and publish their results. 1st making fuel from FOOD. 2nd it takes almost the same btu's to produce 1gal. ethanol as are contained in it. tractor/combine/hauling diesel and in the newer cars the computer reads lean mixture pours on more gasahol and i loose 10-12% mileage consistently.CU please do an article on this as too many people are being misenformed. [also just look at the ingriedients label on almost any food product and you'll find a corn product-sweetner corn starch etc.

[everett whitney]

Lo Vs Hi Rolling Efforts ?

On a new vehicle, no need to worry about either, of course -
one may only use whatever comes on that new unit !

As far a replacements later, just do try to get "safe" versions - Certainly Not the very least monies!

Traction, Temperature & relative Treadwear ratings are on the sidewall, near the bead of every tire legally sold in this country ... try to find the proper size, from a major manufacturer, with "A, A, A" stamped - as well as a recent date of molding within those last (4) numerals ... I.E. -
2608 at the end of that string represents that the tire was molded ( made ) at the tire factory during the 26th week of 2008 .

And, NEVER any from China !

[Jeff Bartlett - Consumer Reports]

No question, this is a complicated issue.

We published a detailed investigative report at:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2006/ethanol-10-06/overview/1006_ethanol_ov1_1.htm

[everett whitney]

TIRE MARKINGS ....

"Too Many "A", of course ... the last one will be a numeral

such as ..200 (very lo tread life) .. 400 (normal) ... 600 (better) ..

Sorry !

[PMC the 1st]

Guzzle gas in our country and have it burn through very sophisticated emissions controls cleanly or let China guzzle their gas and let it burn through archaic emissions control systems that pollute the air we berathe; the choice is yours, people.
One way or another the oil in teh mid-east will get used up.

[Paul R]

PMC the 1st - You have a very unique viewpoint and I applaud you for that. Your solution to global warming, pollution, etc is to use up all the oil before anybody else gets to it. I wonder why none of the presidential candidates is in favor of your plan?

Another alternative might be to work WITH those developing nations that have high pollution to teach them how to bring their emissions under control. This is more of an extension of good will than trying to fight over the last drops of oil.

[Paul R]

I would like to add that tires can safely be inflated beyond the car manufacturer's suggested air pressure. In fact, that Max pressure you see on the sidewall of the tire is perfectly safe and you will see an improvement in fuel economy.
Manufacturers decide on their suggested air pressure by including factors such as ride comfort and noise.
I bought low noise and low rolling resistance tires (Michelin X Radial DT from Sam's) and keep them inflated to 40 psi. Along with the new tires and changes I've made in my driving habits, I get about 23% better mileage on the highway and 30% better mileage in the city.

[PMC the 1st]

I say we should use as much liquid dinosaur as much as we can and as quickly as we can. The sooner our developed nation does this, the better it is to the environment as a whole.
And it's inevitable, too, because Big Oil has so much money, they'll prevent any sort of nuclear power station from coming on line, particularly fusion power reactors.

"But fusion power reactors haven't even been developed yet. PMC, how do you expect us to use power from a source that doesn't even exist yet?"
I assure you: bring Big Oil to the brink of bankruptcy and fusion reactors will suddenly appear, as if by magic.

[David Miller]

Thank you for this post. It is very important, especially in this day and age. Thanks!