The Effect of Tire Pressure on Gas Mileage
Several factors can affect the gas mileage a vehicle will get, including excess weight in the vehicle, the speed the vehicle travels, road conditions and the frequency of stops and starts. Keeping the tires properly inflated, however, can also be a major factor in determining what the gas mileage will be in a particular vehicle.
Other People Are Reading
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Gas Mileage Tests
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Many tests have been conducted to determine whether increasing tire pressure will increase gas mileage. Unfortunately, most tests found on the Internet and in stores are conducted by tire manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers, oil companies and large auto dealerships, so these can not be considered unbiased.
Properly Inflated Tires
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Properly inflated tires will give the most efficient gas mileage. Tires that are properly inflated to the manufacturer's specifications can improve gas mileage by as much as 3 percent over driving with improperly inflated tires.
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Too Little Tire Pressure
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A vehicles gas mileage decreases by 4 percent for every pound of recommended air pressure that is not in the tire. As the tire pressure decreases in a tire, the tire hugs the pavement more and therefore causes the tires to rotate slower and the car to use more gas.
Too Much Tire Pressure
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If tires have too much air pressure in them, they will not hug the ground very well and this will make it difficult to handle the vehicle in a safe manner. Although over-inflated tires may increase gas mileage by one percent over the manufacturer's recommendations, the decrease in safe handling of the vehicle can be detrimental to the driver and any passengers.
Tire Pressure Chart
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The tire pressure chart that came with the vehicle is the best way to determine the proper tire pressure for the tires. This chart is usually located on the driver's side door, in the glove box or in the vehicles owner's manual. To get the maximum gas mileage possible, always keep the tires properly inflated.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of looking for inspiration...) (Jacek Korona
