Choose Tires Wisely and Enjoy Gas Savings

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Choose Tires Wisely and Enjoy Gas Savings

by: JoanYankowitz | Total views: 3 | Word Count: 548 | View PDF | Print View
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I'm sure you're concerned with saving as much money on gas as possible these days. I'll bet you didn't realized that having the right tires can greatly improve your fuel consumption.

If you don't know a lot about tire efficiency, you're not alone. Most people don't know that they are adding to their driving expenses by choosing tires that deliver poor fuel economy. There's not a lot of information available about tire efficiency. And its difficult to know how to make your choice.

This will change in the future, because the federal government has mandated that tire manufacturers must start labeling tires for fuel efficiency. The program would create a national labeling system similar to the Energy Star system used to rate the energy efficiency of household appliance.

To date, the government program hasn't made much progress. Industry watchdogs claim that tire companies are stalling, but the manufacturers say they've spent millions of dollars on the research and development of tires that are fuel efficient.

You'll find that tires today are more efficient today than they were in the 1970s. Radial tires have improved tire efficiency, and there have been many advances in tread patterns. Rolling resistance, (the power that is lost as rolling tires flex and change shape), has also been reduced by as much as 50%.

Unfortunately, efficiency can still vary by as much as half from tire to tire, reducing fuel economy by more than 10 percent. And experts believe the mandated minimum standards should help reduce the amount of gasoline used in the US by billions of gallons.

You won't have any way of knowing which tire will provide the most fuel efficiency until the minimum standards appear. For now, you should use these tips from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Make sure you inflate your tires according to the manufacturer's psi specifications. You'll find that you can improve your mileage by keeping your tires properly inflated. Don't test the pressure in a hot or cold tire.

When you're replacing tires, consider purchasing the same brand and model that came as original equipment on your car. Auto manufacturers know that new cars will be thoroughly tested and rated by consumer magazines, right down to the performance of the tire, so they're usually careful to choose the most efficient tire possible.

Stay away from special wheels for your truck or car. Wider tires touch the road with more friction, and oversize wheels and rims weigh more. Your fuel efficiency will be reduced.

Only replace your tires when they need it. To test the tread, turn a penny and put Lincoln's head upside down. Then stick the penny in the tire tread groove. If the top of his head is noticeable, replace the tires.

Only fill tires with air. Don't fill them with nitrogen, since it hasn't been proven that nitrogen improves mileage or tire wear.

If you see that the tire tread is uneven, take your car in for servicing to determine the problem. You could have alignment, balance, or parts issues.

Use snow tires in a snowy climate and drive slow to increase efficiency. Don't buy rain tires if you live in a dry climate.

It's clear to see that the right tires can help improve your fuel efficiency and save you money. You'll want to learn even more gas saving tips as gas prices continue to skyrocket.
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