Yes! Read On to Find Out Why

Tires can make a huge difference in the number of miles per gallon you can get. It’s not about tire maintenance or what kind of tires are on your car. The answer is rolling resistance. 

What is Rolling Resistance?

Tire rolling resistance is the energy that your vehicle needs to send to your tires to maintain movement at a consistent speed over a surface. However, many factors play a part in rolling resistance and fuel economy - road quality, inertia (to remain unchanged), and air drag are just a few.

Rolling resistance doesn’t stay constant either. When other factors that affect fuel economy are eliminated, rolling resistance plays a bigger role. For instance, fuel efficiency is different during highway driving as opposed to stop-and-go traffic. Vehicles are becoming more aerodynamic, resulting in rolling resistance playing a greater role in fuel economy. 

Vehicle manufacturers have fuel efficiency targets they need to meet. Many tire manufacturers now feature a fuel efficiency rating. Manufacturers make low rolling resistance tires that are designed to reduce weight. They are molded with thinner sidewalls and tread shallower depths, and they use low rolling resistance constructions and tread compounds. 

Treadwear and Fuel Economy

35-50% of rolling resistance comes from the tire tread. The shallower the tread, the more fuel-efficient the tire will be. 

Tire Size and Gas Mileage

Smaller tires are easier to get moving than larger ones, so smaller ones will get better fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic. Why? Because less power is needed. Once moving, however, the engine has to work harder to make the smaller wheel cover the same distance, so the larger wheel is better for highway driving. 

 

Tire Inflation

We here at Hooper's Tire Outlet realize this is very complicated and may be hard to understand. To put it more simply, the easiest way to get better fuel economy is to be sure your tires are properly inflated. The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the owner's manual. Please note: Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.

In researching this topic, we found that if a tire is 20 percent underinflated, this can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by 10 percent. Underinflation also increases the rate at which your tires wear, which means you’ll be getting tires sooner than you should've been.