It’s no secret that cost of fuel is an ongoing area of concern. While fuel prices may be dropping, every little helps during the cost-of-living crisis. Did you know there are other ways to boost the fuel economy of your vehicle? It’s so important to find ways to improve your fuel efficiency when you drive – a few simple changes can help you travel extra miles, saving you hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds every year.
One of the most important components to fuel efficiency are your tyres. These are your one and only point of contact with the road, so it’s vital that they are as efficient as possible to avoid wasting fuel. This is why more and more drivers are turning to fuel-efficient tyres, or eco-tyres as they are also known.
What are fuel-efficient tyres?
Fuel-efficient tyres have been specifically designed to minimise the rolling resistance between the tyres and the road. Most brands of tyres will have these available to buy; for example, Arnold Clark Autoparts has a collection of fuel-efficient tyres that range in price, from the Goodyear 205 EfficientGrip Performance tyre to the Michelin 100V e.Primacy tyre.
By minimising the friction between the tyres and the road, your vehicle will be able to travel further for every litre of fuel, maximising your car’s travel potential. Considering the potential life span of your tyres (which should be a minimum of 20,000 miles out of your front tyres and 40,000 for your back tyres), this could translate to thousands of pounds in savings.
Fuel-efficient grading
In 2021, new legislation was introduced to help customers make informed decisions about the safety and economical value of their tyres by updating the grading system for tyres. The grading system covered three core components – noise, wet grip, and fuel efficiency – and scored them from A – E, with A being the best. The difference between A-graded and E-graded tyres for fuel efficiency is vast, with somewhere around 7.5% less fuel consumed with the A-graded tyres. Keep in mind, tyres account for 20% of your car’s fuel consumption, so a significant saving with your tyres will translate to many many more miles.
You may be wondering if fuel-efficient tyres are as safe as other tyres; after all, lower rolling resistance must make it harder to stop the car, right? Well, the joy about fuel-efficient tyres is that they are just as good at braking as regular tyres. This is largely due to the fact that they are made of a specialised rubber that is able to keep a strong grip while also lowering rolling resistance. But there are other aspects as well that contribute to this seemingly paradoxical situation, such as their specially designed treads. Regardless, you can always check the tyre’s wet grip rating alongside its fuel efficiency to make sure your tyres are both economical and safe.
What are the other benefits of fuel-efficient tyres?
Not only will switching to fuel-efficient tyres help to save you money, but they are also better for the environment; this is why they are also known as ‘green tyres’. Very simply, the less fuel you use to travel, the less CO2 is produced and the better it is for the environment. It really is a win-win situation.
Do electric vehicles need fuel-efficient tyres?
From a legal standpoint, you absolutely do not need fuel-efficient tyres for any electric vehicle. As long as your tyres are safe and road legal, that is all that is important. However, most people who go for EVs will often choose fuel-efficient tyres as well, as they are one of the best ways to maximise your EV’s range. Plus, fuel-efficient tyres are also better for the environment, so the two go hand-in-hand well.
What else can I do to make my driving more fuel-efficient?
There are some additional simple adjustments you can make to maximise your fuel efficiency. Ensuring your tyres are properly inflated and are undamaged is a key one; a flat or damaged tyre is harder to move, so your rolling resistance is increased and takes more fuel to get moving.
But outside of tyres, you can also adapt your driving. Smooth acceleration and deceleration, no harsh braking, and sticking to the speed limit all help your fuel-efficiency and get you going that extra mile.
For more info and tips check out these blogs:
- Ways to improve your vehicle's fuel economy
- Key tyre safety checks
- What do the new EU tyre labels mean?
Photo credit: Mark Chan via unsplash.com
