Whether your car tyres are clean or not, they’re always going to have an affect on your vehicle’s fuel economy.
Tyres can now have a 20% impact on fuel efficiency, and so our goal is to have that rubber sliding down the road with as little ‘rolling resistance’ as possible; greater work for the engine means more gasoline.
So, what do we look for when considering tyres in relation to fuel effiency or economy?
The reason for tyre standards
A combo of legal requirements along with a clear public demand is the reason why vehicle manufacturers to keep engine emissions and fuel consumption as low as they can.
As a result, the original rubber on your vehicle’s standard tyre size should be the optimum choice for that vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Changing to a larger tyre, either in width or diameter, will certainly require greater engine power to overcome increased rolling resistance, which is not going to help your fuel economy in the slightest.
For this reason, we strongly recommend sticking with your car manufacturer’s recommended tyre size and pressure.
Your car’s tyres need proper care and attention
Check the air pressure on your tyres when you can. Low pressures can cause uneven tyre wear and force an engine to work harder to keep the show moving, which again, doesn’t support your fuel economy.
When checking your tyres, check the pressure when they’re still cool, and remember to adjust them for greater loads if the manufacturer’s tyre placard, which is usually situated on the door jamb, says so.
To spread the load, have the wheels rotated and checked for balance at least once every 10,000 kilometres.
Include a front-end alignment with every major service! To reduce rolling resistance, all four tyres must be at the proper pressures, evenly balanced, and evenly worn.
Other ways to increase your tyres’ integrity and lifespan
If you’re looking for a way to really optimise your tyre (and thus, engine) performance, then filling tyres with nitrogen instead of air (or oxygen) may help maintain optimal tyre pressures, although regular tyre inspections of oxygen-filled tyres will be just as useful.
Be ware, some tyres advertise themselves as “fuel savers,” yet they may not last as long or be as reliable in wet weather. It’s always best to double-check any fuel-saving promises with one of My Auto Shop‘s many tyre experts around New Zealand.
Get started by checking in to the services area, and we’ll put you in touch with the closest tyre expert near you.