New Tires Help Gas Mileage
When people talk about all of the new technologies that accompany the development of hybrid and electric vehicles, the discussion usually focuses on batteries and electric motors. One very important aspect of this development, however, is often ignored: tires. Tire manufacturers are working hard to create a new generation of rolling stock that will provide a lower rolling resistance, good treadwear life, and adequate grip; a very tricky combination to pull off.
The reason that rolling resistance is such a big concern is because the less resistance there is, the less work the car’s propulsion system, whether electric motor or internal combustion engine, has to do in order to overcome friction. There is a trade-off to this however. One cannot simply make a tire that rides incredibly smooth and lightly across the pavement, because that tire would not provide adequate grip on the road in order to perform turns or evasive maneuvers. Yes, you’d increase your gas mileage, but you’d fly off the road anytime you came to a tight turn. One of the forerunners of this next generation of tire is the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max, pictured above, which will be the stock tire on the upcoming Chevrolet Volt.
Goodyear’s offering has 27% lower rolling resistance which lends itself to a 4% increase in highway gas mileage. Over the 65,000 mile lifetime of the tires, they will give you an extra 2,600 miles worth of gas. Michelin has also developed a new line of tires, called the Energy Saver A/S which, they claim, is 8% more fuel efficient than other cars in its class. While Michelin’s tires are currently focused towards hybrid vehicles, Goodyear’s Assurance Fuel Max is available in sizes that will fit about 80% of current car models. The fuel savings come at a price, though, as the average sticker price for the Goodyear tires is $142 each. That’s a bit steep now, but once the manufacturing technology catches up within a few years, that price will likely drop. As has been said before, making cars more fuel efficient will not be done in one fell swoop, but rather with a variety of technologies and techniques, and the next generation of tires is a crucial piece of that puzzle.
