How Tire Size Affects Gas Mileage
Getting every last mile out of a gallon of gasoline has become very important from an economical and an environmental perspective. When it comes to automobiles, many factors affect gas mileage. The size, type and condition of your tires can have an impact on your vehicle's fuel economy.
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What Is Rolling Resistance?
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When tires move over the road or another surface, they must exert a certain amount of force to maintain forward movement in a straight line at a constant speed. This is called rolling resistance, and is specifically caused by the tire's bending and stretching pattern while it moves. This occurs mostly in the tread portion of the tire, which is the heaviest and largest part of a tire.
Of two tires that are the same brand and line, the heavier, larger size tire has more rolling resistance. This means that your vehicle uses more fuel to make the tires move since the engine must overcome greater rolling resistance.
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Why Rolling Resistance Matters
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Tire rolling resistance can increase total vehicle fuel consumption by as much as 4 percent in urban driving and 7 percent during highway driving, according to the Tire Rack. A 10 percent reduction in tire rolling resistance results in a one- to two-percent improvement in vehicle fuel economy. This may not seem like a lot, but it can reduce fuel consumption by a couple of tanks per year and make the purchase of lower rolling resistance tires a better value over their lifetime.
Some tire companies that offer tires specifically designed for lower rolling resistance include Goodyear, Cooper, Michelin, Bridgestone and Yokohama.
Tire Maintenance
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A simple way to get the best fuel economy out of any set of tires is to keep them properly maintained. Under-inflated tires require more force to turn. Check tires monthly to ensure they are properly inflated. You can find the correct inflation pressure in your owner's manual or on the placard inside the driver's door.
Honor Safety Above Fuel Efficiency
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Tires that are overinflated or are more worn (with less than 4/32nds of tread) have a lower rolling resistance. No matter how tempting it is to get better fuel economy, do not overfill your tires; doing so may adversely affect safety. Replace your tires when needed. Do not let your tires get below 2/32nds of tread before replacing them, since at that level the stopping distance and safety features could be affected negatively.
Other Fuel Efficiency Tips
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You can take additional steps to reduce your vehicle's fuel consumption. Maintain your air filter; replacing a clogged air filter can increase your vehicle's gas mileage. You can also improve gas mileage by selecting the proper grade of oil for your car.
Eliminate any excess weight in your vehicle by watching what you keep in your trunk. For every 100 pounds, your vehicle's gas mileage can be reduced by one to two percent, according to Goodyear.
Avoid fast starts when coming out of stop signs or red lights. Aggressive acceleration can reduce your gas mileage by up to 33 percent, according to Goodyear.
References
- Photo Credit "wanna go home.." is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Sir Mervs under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
