Tire maintenance - increase your gas mileage with proper tire care
Get best gas mileage by inspecting your tires regularly. The goal is to reduce rolling resistance as much as possible, as a 10% reduction in rolling resistance can improve gas mileage by 2%. Maintaining your tires properly provides a few good benefits:
The best gas mileage is like saving two tanks of gas per year, and with gas prices high as they are today, that is about $120-$150 per year.
Tire maintenance can increase tire life and gas mileage so you'll actually buy one less set of tires during the life of your car.
Safety for you and your family is increased with proper tire maintenance.
1. Tire air pressure
Tires can be expected to lose up to 2 psi per month depending on the tire. During cold weather tire pressure should be checked more often. If one tire is under inflated by 6 psi, this can reduce gas mileage by 3%, and damage the tires in the process.
Tire tread life is significantly reduced when the tires are underinflated. You should check your tire air pressure at least twice per month.
During winter, tires that would read 32 psi in 70 temperatures will read about 26 psi. Winter tires may or may not increase gas mileage, but they sure can improve safety.
Get your own tire gage (less than $5), since service station gages are frequently inaccurate or missing. Often they are treated poorly so they may be in bad condition.
Check tire pressure before you do a lot of driving. Air inside the tire heats up and pressurizes as you drive. Once the air is heated, any reading you get will not be accurate. The general rule is if your car was sitting at least three hours before you checked the tires or if you drove less than 2 miles on cold tires before checking the pressure you're OK.
For the tire psi specification for your vehicle, there may be a plate or sticker near the driver's door post or on the edge of the door itself. This info may also be located in the glove box or gas tank door. If you can't find it anywhere, check your owner's manual or your car dealer. The specification for the tire itself can be found on the sidewall, usually around 32 psi when cold. Be aware that the sidewall may also list the maximum tire pressure. Inflating your tires to that pressure is certainly dangerous.
2. Tire choices
If you're shopping for new tires, choose with caution, talk to a tire professional and check your owner's manual. Bias-belted tires are stiffer than radial tires and have a higher rolling resistance. The best situation from a gas mileage standpoint is a set of tires with low rolling resistance and long tread life that will meet your vehicle's needs and your driving needs.
3. Wheel alignment and balancing
Have your wheel alignment checked regularly (usually once per year). Check your vehicle's service manual. Misaligned tires will drag instead of rolling freely. Maintaining the alignment will improve gas mileage, increase tire life and maintain the vehicle's handling and ride.
Wheels should also be balanced. If they are out of balance, you could feel a vibration through the steering wheel. This will shorten the life of your vehicle's suspension and will cause uneven tire wear. Balance them to get better gas mileage.
4. Rotate your tires to prolong their life and improve gas mileage.
It's a good idea to rotate your tires regularly to distribute the wear evenly among all four tires. In addition to promoting long tire life, this will help your tires deliver the best gas mileage and safety.
On most vehicles, tires should be rotated about twice a year. Verify with your owner's manual for the rotation pattern and how often it should be done.
best gas mileage enhancers - get the best gas mileage with these important tips
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