Different types of tires have different fuel efficiency characteristics, so when you are shopping for new tires, you many want to keep in mind how Energy Efficient auto tires are. Of course you should keep your tires inflated to their recommended pressure levels. Tires affect vehicle fuel economy mainly through rolling resistance. Bigger tires, rims and wider tires are heavier, less aerodynamic, and create more rolling resistance. Unfortunately no standard on rating efficiency exists. Bills have been introduced to create such a rating.

An interesting publication on Tire Fuel Efficiency states:

“A 10 percent reduction in average rolling resistance, if achieved for the population of vehicles using replacement tires, promises a 1 to 2 percent increase in the fuel economy of these vehicles. About 80 percent of passenger cars and light trucks are equipped with replacement tires. Assuming that the number of miles traveled does not change, a 1 to 2 percent increase in the fuel economy of these vehicles would save about 1 billion to 2 billion gallons of fuel per year of the 130 billion gallons consumed by the entire passenger vehicle fleet. This fuel savings is equivalent to the fuel saved by taking 2 million to 4 million cars and light trucks off the road.”

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