How To Pick The Best Tires For Fuel Efficiency
Photo by Robert Laursoo on Unsplash
Did you know that the type of tires you choose for your vehicle can have a direct effect on fuel efficiency? Tire quality matters, and choosing the right set of tires can be a wise investment in your vehicle’s fuel economy. In the search for the best tires for fuel efficiency, there are a few factors that you will need to keep in mind when making your selection. We’ll cover how fuel-saving tires work and how to pick the best ones.
How Can Tires Affect Fuel Efficiency?
The tires that you select for your vehicle can have a significant effect on fuel economy.
New technologies are allowing manufacturers to make giant strides in fuel efficiency through features that reduce weight, reduce resistance, improve traction, and improve treadwear.
Best practices for manufacturing tires with fuel economy in mind include:
- Additives to the rubber (such as silica) that increase fuel efficiency
- Reinforcements in the tire structure that provide greater traction and treadwear
- Proprietary tread design that promotes even wear and longevity
- Lighter materials and other features that reduce tire weight
- Tread patterns that decrease rolling resistance and improve traction
- Tread depth that is deeper for better grip
- Stiffer sidewall construction that reduces heat consumption and decreases rolling resistance
When you are shopping for new tires, you’ll want to look for tires that highlight these features.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
How to Pick the Best Tires for Fuel Efficiency?
Although it can cost a bit more upfront, you will save more money in the long run with tires that have a positive effect on your vehicle’s fuel economy. With rising fuel costs, even a slight increase in your car’s MPG can make a big difference over time. Keep in mind that the average tire lifespan is approximately 5 years or 50,000 miles.
When shopping for tires, you’ll want to keep an eye out for those with the lowest resistance levels, best grip, most efficient materials, and other factors that increase performance and decrease fuel consumption.
Even if they are not marketed as such, any set of tires with the above characteristics should lead to an increase in your fuel economy. Tires that are marketed as eco-friendly may also have a positive effect on MPG. In addition, tires that are described as low-rolling resistance or all-season tires would be a good place to start because they have less tread and improved traction.
One of the single most important factors influencing the fuel economy of a tire is its rolling resistance. Improving the rolling resistance of your tire can decrease fuel consumption by as much as 5%. To help in your search for a fuel-efficient set of tires, Consumer Reports has published a chart of some of the top-rated tires when it comes to rolling resistance.
Additionally, there are many tire marketplaces online where you can take a look at the many options for tires and compare the features and benefits of one tire over another. For example, you can check the Uniform Tire Quality Grade (or UTQG) of each tire you have in mind to check for the highest ratings in the area of tread wear and traction. Tires that are rated higher in these areas have better road performance which also increases fuel efficiency.
So, in summary, when you are shopping for tires that can positively affect your vehicle’s MPG, look for a tire with good treadwear, traction, and rolling resistance. These are the three main factors to keep in mind when deciding on a tire that can increase your fuel efficiency. Other features to look for include reinforced sidewalls, eco-friendly components in the rubber, and decreased tire weight. All of these factors can also lead to an increase in your fuel efficiency.
How much will you save with fuel-efficient tires?
Selecting the best tires for fuel efficiency can take some time and research, but the money you save will make the extra effort well worth it.
Just how much money can you expect to save? Research done by Consumer Reports found that it is possible to save a few hundred dollars over the lifetime of your tires by choosing a set of tires that has fuel-efficient features like lower rolling resistance.
THE 10 MOST RELIABLE AMERICAN CARS
Because the car buying experience is so stressful, it’s helpful to go into the dealership with information ahead of time. Therefore, we’ve curated a list of the 10 most reliable American cars so you can approach the process from a place of empowerment.
Best Tires for Fuel Efficiency
Some of the best options on the market today for increased fuel economy include:
- Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max - Specialized dry and wet tread zones increase traction and performance, while a narrower tread width lowers rolling resistance.
- Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter - Everything from the unique rubber compound to the optimized tread pattern contributes to peak performance and maximum fuel efficiency.
- Michelin Energy Saver A/S - Michelin’s proprietary center groove design and innovative tread pattern, along with other features, contribute to reduced resistance and increased traction, both of which improve MPG.
- Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus - With claims of improved fuel efficiency of up to 20 miles per tank of gas, these lightweight tires have been designed specifically to reduce friction and heat consumption.
How to Optimize Tire Fuel Efficiency
A purchase of any of the tires listed above should lead to a decrease in your fuel consumption.
However, keep in mind that your driving habits and driving style will also have an effect on your vehicle’s MPG. Your vehicle size and tire size matter, too, with larger and heavier tires leading to an increase in fuel consumption. This means that the larger your vehicle and its tires, the more savings you can expect to see from the selection of an eco-friendly fuel-efficient tire.
Lastly, it is important to keep your tires well maintained with regular rotations and optimal tire pressure. The more stability your tires can provide to your vehicle, the better the fuel efficiency you will see. So keep your tires rotated on schedule and properly inflated.
If you are riding around town with a set of old, worn-out tires, it may be time to consider an upgrade to one of the fuel-efficient tires listed above. Simply keep the above features and brands in mind as you hit the market for your next set of tires - and your wallet will thank you later at the fuel pump.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TINT CAR WINDOWS?
Different tints block different levels of UV light and in the long run can prevent sun damage to your skin and eyes, but how much does it cost to tint car windows? We’ve got the answer.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
