In 2022, there were 283 million vehicles in the United States. Each year, vehicle owners purchase approximately 340 million replacement tires for vehicles, which consume about 135 billion gallons of gas annually. The tires you buy and how well you maintain them can significantly affect how much money you spend on fuel, as well as your vehicle’s impact on the environment. Being an informed consumer and properly maintaining your tires means you can be green — and keep more “green” in your wallet.
Tire Design
The way tires are designed, such as materials, construction and tread design, influence tire performance and fuel efficiency. Also, a tire’s design can have other performance benefits, such as durability, wet and dry traction, handling, ride comfort and rolling resistance.
Rolling Resistance
Tires with low rolling resistance have characteristics that reduce energy loss, thereby improving fuel economy. It is estimated that a 10% reduction in tire rolling resistance will result in a 1-2% improvement in vehicle fuel economy. Original equipment manufacturers increasingly specify low-rolling-resistance tires for new vehicles. These tires commonly include attributes such as higher inflation pressure and reduced sidewall and tread deflection. When it comes time to replace your tires, low-rolling-resistance tires are also available from aftermarket tire vendors. Low-rolling-resistance replacement tires improve vehicle fuel economy, extend the range of electric and hybrid vehicles, and provide these additional expected benefits of:
- enhancing the fuel efficiency similar to the vehicles’ original equipment tires, and
- reducing fuel costs to consumers.
FuelEconomy.gov has more information on tire performance and fuel economy.
