Tyres play a valuable role in your car’s fuel efficiency. Whether it’s tyre pressure, tread design, tyre size, driving habits or maintenance factors, the right choices can improve fuel efficiency and lower fuel consumption.
Our team has answered some of your key questions to help you understand how your tyres can improve your fuel savings.
What Is Fuel Economy and Why Does It Matter for My Tyres?
Fuel economy is how efficient your vehicle is when using fuel to travel over a certain distance. Tyres have an impact on the efficiency of your car, as they affect how much energy your car is using to drive. Tyres that have low rolling resistance and are kept properly inflated are more fuel efficient, allowing your car to travel further and effectively saving money at the pump.
How Do Tyres Influence Fuel Efficiency?
Your tyres influence how much energy your vehicle needs to move, thus impacting overall fuel consumption. A key factor is rolling resistance; this is the friction between the tyre and the road. Tyres with higher rolling resistance require more engine power, increasing fuel consumption. Tread patterns, tyre size and weight also play a role as larger tread patterns can create more drag.
Proper tyre pressure is just as important, underinflated tyres increase resistance and impact fuel usage.
How Does Tyre Pressure (Too Low or Too High) Affect Fuel Consumption?
The amount of air in your tyres directly affects how much fuel your vehicle uses. When tyres are underinflated, the surface area of the tyre increases, impacting rolling resistance, and forcing the engine to work harder. Overinflated tyres also reduce efficiency by distorting the tyre size and shape. A manufacturer’s recommendation on pressure will ensure the tyres roll efficiently, improving fuel economy and extending tyre life.
Remembering to regularly check your tyre pressure helps to implement eco-friendly and cost-saving practices for the everyday use of your vehicle. To learn more about tyre pressure, read our blog about The Ins & Outs of Tyre Pressure.
Do Bigger or Wider Tyres Use More Fuel?
Yes, bigger or wider tyres can use more fuel. They are typically heavier and create drag and resistance, making the engineer work harder while moving. This increased effort will lead to higher fuel consumption compared with smaller tyres.
Do New Tyres Actually Save Petrol?
New tyres on your vehicle can help lower fuel consumption because they usually have better tread design and lower rolling resistance than worn tyres. This allows the vehicle to roll more efficiently and requires less energy to move. As a result, drivers may see improved fuel economy and reduced petrol costs.
How Do I Know If My Current Tyres Are Costing Me More on Fuel?
By observing factors such as wear and tear, low tread depth, or incorrect tyre pressure, you can detect possible factors that cause rolling resistance and raise fuel costs. Regular tyre checks, proper inflation, and timely replacements can help improve fuel efficiency and reduce unnecessary fuel use. A professional inspection of your tyres will also help to determine whether they’re causing higher fuel consumption.
Is It Worth Replacing Tyres Just to Save Fuel?
Replacing tyres purely to save fuel isn’t always necessary, but choosing fuel-efficient tyres can have long term benefits. Tyres with lower rolling resistance reduces energy loss as they roll, so the engine won’t have to work as hard. Over time, the car runs on more efficient tyres improving fuel savings and reducing emissions.
What Are ‘Fuel‑saving’ or Low Rolling Resistance Tyres, And Are They Worth It or Just Marketing?
Fuel-saving tyres are designed to reduce energy loss for your car and reduce rolling resistance. This can be done by using special tread compounds, aerodynamic patterns, and stiffer construction. Long term this helps the engine work less, and combined with proper maintenance, provides a good long-term solution. These tyres aren’t just marketing, testing shows they deliver measurable savings over time.
What Simple Tyre and Driving Habits Help Me Get Better Fuel Economy?
Simple driving habits and tyre care can help you to implement better practices and work toward improving your fuel economy. Keeping tyres properly inflated, rotating them regularly, regular wheel alignment and replacing worn tyres are all best practice solutions.
While driving, avoiding quick acceleration, sudden braking, and idling for longer periods preserves the integrity of your tires. Avoiding excess weight such as roof racks and trailers will also reduce drag and also contribute towards saving money.
Consistent tyre maintenance and mindful driving will help to improve your fuel economy in the long run.
What Are The Best Fuel‑saving Tyres Available in New Zealand?
There are a few great options for eco-friendly or fuel saving tyres in NZ. We recommend the Kumho Ecowing ES31 and Hankook Kinergy Eco2 K435 for New Zealand drivers, both are designed for low rolling resistance and available from Tyre Shop Online.
Where Can I Buy Fuel‑saving Tyres Online in New Zealand?
Tyre Shop Online has a great range of fuel saving tyres, and our team has the knowledge about what is best for your vehicle. We offer nationwide delivery straight to your doorstep, and free shipping when you buy 4 or more tyres delivered to one of our trusted fitters. Check our wide range of tyres online today.
Quick Recap
Fuel saving does not have to be hard, and tyres can be the key to improving your fuel efficiency and fuel costs. Make sure to keep them in shape, have an awareness when driving, and being intentional about tyre choice and maintenance will help you long term.
Got questions? Reach out to our friendly team – we are ready to help you.
Happy Motoring!
