Gas Saving Tips, Tricks & Secrets - StretchYourGasDollar.com - The Right Tire Can Help Lower Gas Expenses

With gas prices going through the roof, drivers are scrambling to find ways of lowering their fuel consumption. Surprisingly enough, one of the best ways of saving money on gas may not be at the pump, but at the tire store.

Auto owners often unwittingly add to their driving expenses by choosing tires that deliver poor fuel economy. That’s because most consumers have never even heard of “tire efficiency.” Little consumer-level information is available and there are no standardized ratings available to help car buyers make wise choices.

That will eventually change, as the federal government has mandated that tire manufacturers must begin labeling tires for fuel efficiency. Regulations call for a program that would create a national labeling system similar to the Energy Star system used to rate the energy efficiency of household appliance.

But so far little progress has been made in the direction of labeling. Some say the industry is stonewalling. Not so, say representatives of the tire manufacturers.

They point to the vast sums the tire industry, with annual sales of 34 billion dollars, has spent on research and development of more fuel-efficient tires.

Tires produced today are, in fact, far more efficient than tires were in 1975. Rolling resistance, which refers to the power that is lost as rolling tires flex and change shape, has been reduced by as much as 50%. Tire efficiency was also greatly improved with the introduction of radial tires, and by further advances in tread patterns and the use of new, lighter rubber compounds.

Still, efficiency can vary by as much as half from tire to tire, reducing fuel economy by more than 10 percent. That’s why experts say the mandated minimum standards could help reduce the amount of gasoline used by billions of gallons.

But until those minimum standards actually appear, the consumer is left in the dark with no way of knowing which tire will deliver the most fuel efficiency for their vehicle. Until labeling arrives, the best an auto owner can do is remember these tips from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Keep your tires properly inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommended psi. Properly inflated tires can improve your mileage by 3.3% according to studies. Keep in mind that you should never test pressure in a hot tire in the summer, or in a cold tire in the winter.
When 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-level magazines, right down to the performance of the tire, so they’re usually careful to choose the most efficient tire possible.
Resist the urge to trick out your car or truck with flashy wheels. Oversize wheels and rims weigh more and wider tires have more surface area touching the road, thus creating more friction. Both work to reduce fuel efficiency.
Worn tires are actually more efficient than brand new ones, so don’t replace tires until you have to. Use the penny test to determine if it's time. Turn a penny so that the Queen's head is upside down. Then, stick the penny in the groove of the tire treads. If you can see the top of her head, it's time to replace the tires.
Don’t fill tires with nitrogen instead of air. There’s still no definitive data showing that filling tires with nitrogen improves either mileage or tire wear. Until the data is in, it’s probably not worth the extra expense.
If your wheels show uneven tread wear, you may have alignment, balance or parts problems: If one edge of your tire is more worn than the other, and has a "feathered" appearance, you have an alignment problem. If the tire appears to be "cupped," you may have damaged parts or you may not be keeping your tires properly balanced. Any of these situations will reduce your fuel efficiency.
If you live in a dry climate, don't buy rain tires. Water-shedding or off-road tread patterns often burn more fuel. If you live in a snowy climate, do buy snow tires and drive slow, both of which will increase efficiency when snowflakes fall.

Gas Saving Tips - The Right Tire Can Help Lower Gas Expenses