With the prices of fuel constantly rising, it’s perfectly logical that everyone wants to cut down on the usage. The market started overflowing with products claiming to save up fuel. In all this, some might forget to think about one of the most important parts of the car, namely the tyres. They play a big role in the actual economic usage of fuel. One of the things is to regularly check the tyre inflation pressure, but the weight and rubber chemistry of the tyre are all factors that contribute to how much it takes to push that tyre down the highway. The latest buzzword in this area has been low rolling resistance tyres (LLR), which to put it simply minimize wasted energy as a tyre rolls, thereby decreasing required rolling effort, and further on leading to reduced fuel usage.
Most people will opt to find information on the internet and then end up being either too confused or actually too unmotivated. Reading online forums often gives two sides of the same coin, and you might end up reading really bad reviews on really good products written by people who did not know how to use them properly in the first place. It is always better to properly inform yourself about the tyres you are getting either with your local mechanic or at a credible website that is known for publishing professionally written reviews.
If you’re a fan of automobiles you have probably dabbled in reading some magazines that relate to this subject. If you need to buy a new set of tyres, it might also be useful to read into some comparisons of endurance, wear and tear and general efficiency of different tyre sizes – you’ll see that the market is very competitive and you will surely be able to find what best suits you.
Tyre Racks has been one to conduct several testings and comparisons between the competitive brads to see if these new LLR tyres actually did what they claim to. In these tests they used a small fleet of Toyota Orii outfitted with the Goodyear Integrity all-season radial tyres as a baseline. Each tyre was driven over 550 miles through expressways, highways and several side roads. The Michellin Energy Saver A/S gave out the best performance with the average of 53.8 miles per gallon, with the Prius coming close with 51.4 miles per gallon. Other brands of tyres included in the testing include Bridgestone Ecopia EP100, Yokohama dB Super E-Spec, and Goodyear Assurance ComforTred, etc.
The Michelin Energy Saver was by far the best candidate, including its effectiveness in stopping the car while going 50 mph in wet conditions. This however comes at a price, and while some other Michelin tyres such as the HydroEdge come with a mileage warranty, the Energy Saver does not.
It is also notable that, while these tyres are fuel-efficient and good for your pocket, they are also eco friendly. Less fuel means less CO2 emission which is a plus in any case. Just be sure to regularly inflate your tyres, even every time you fill your tank. It might take a bit longer, but it is better than the alternative and that is to have your underpressured tyres quickly bleed away the fuel savings.