By now everyone knows that you can save fuel and minimize tire wear by keeping them properly inflated and rotating them regularly. But to make the next big leap in fuel efficiency, drivers can take advantage of next-generation energy efficient tires being rolled out by several industry leaders including Michelin, Goodyear, Continental and Toyo.
How much can you save?
Goodyear advertises their Assurance FuelMax tires will provide up to 4 percent more fuel efficiency than standard tires. This could very well be a conservative estimate when you consider a story on iStockAnalyst's website. It chronicled how economy driving champions, Helen and John Taylor, squeezed out an additional 9 miles per gallon just by switching to a set of Goodyear Assurance FuelMax tires.
Recent manufacturer's tests have also shown that Michelin's Energy Saver A/S tires offer a whopping 8 percent better fuel efficiency than competing tires. When you do the math, this translates to a savings of about a hundred dollars at the pump every year. (More if fuel prices continue to rise above $2.50/gal.) After the first year, the fuel savings should more than offset the slightly higher initial price of these advanced tires.
Handling
In the past, tire builders could decrease rolling resistance and improve fuel efficiency by increasing the mix of silica in their rubber compounds. But the more they improved economy, the more performance and even tire life decreased. More silica makes a tire harder and less flexible which decreases traction and cornering ability. But thanks to new advanced formulations, silica distribution strategies, and break-thru tread designs (some engineered from the molecular level-up), these new tires save fuel without sacrificing tire wear, all-weather traction and most importantly, safety. In fact, some of these new tires like the Michelin Energy Saver A/S have actually improved stopping distance -- by as much as 8 feet over standard tires, and decreased tire wear - resulting in an additional 16,000 miles of useable life over their standard tires.
A Greener Tire
Increasing fuel efficiency means that these tires also reduce harmful CO2 emissions. A typical car spews over 14,000 pounds of CO2 during the course of a year. Michelin estimates that installing a set of their Energy Saver A/S tires reduces CO2 emissions as much as 2,000 pounds per year -- or about the same as planting 40 trees! When was the last time you could cut your carbon footprint without sacrificing performance or safety, and save money at the same time?
Consult a Professional
Most major tire retailers and chains should now have energy saving tires in stock. Also they will have the training, experience and computerized tools to help you quickly determine the best brand, size and style of tire for your vehicle, driving style...and your budget. Keep in mind, to achieve maximum performance and avoid uneven tire wear, you will need to replace all 4 tires at the same time, especially on all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Also be sure to ask if they have nitrogen inflation. Nitrogen helps maintain proper tire pressure (psi) longer and with less fluctuation in tire pressure due to temperature changes. After all, fuel saving tires can't save much fuel (or last as long as they should) if they are under inflated.
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To read the article on iStockAnalyst.com please visit: http://www.istockanalyst.com/ Belle Tire is working even harder to bring you the best tire price period! Learn how you can get Out-The-Door with more value, services and protection http://www.BelleTire.com Distributed by ContentCrooner.com
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