When you think of all the things that affect how much fuel your car uses, your tires may not sit at the top of the list. Most drivers assume that the way they drive has the biggest impact on fuel efficiency, but there are all sorts of variables that can actually affect this number. Car tires are an extremely important part of the gas mileage equation, which is hen you think of all the things that affect how much fuel your car uses, your tires may not sit at the top of the list. Most drivers assume that the way they drive has the biggest impact on fuel efficiency, but there are all sorts of variables that can actually affect this number. Car tires are an extremely important part of the gas mileage equation, which is why you need to make sure that your tires are fit for this purpose. Why do they make such a difference? Read on to find out more from DCH Millburn Audi.
The tires are a vital part of any car. It’s worth remembering that your tire rubber is literally the only thing that connects your car to the road. When you think of how many miles of driving this affects, it’s easy to understand how this part of the car can make such a difference. The car’s tires affect nearly every aspect of performance, from the speed you reach to the effectiveness with which your brakes can bring the car to a halt.
To get optimum fuel efficiency, the balance of the car’s weight against the road surface needs to be right. Your car’s manufacturer calculates the ideal pressure to inflate the tires, so that the tires make the most efficient contact with the road. It’s important that the tires grip the road’s surface, or the driver can’t control the vehicle, and the handling suffers. Too much grip, however, increases the friction, and that means that the car has to work harder to accelerate. In these cases, the driver may not notice much difference when he or she pushes the accelerator, but the car is actually using more fuel than it needs to. Over many miles, this leads to a relatively significant increase in fuel consumption.
Low pressure in your car’s tires magnifies the weight of the vehicle. Imagine the mass of the car pushing down on the tires, and you can easily see how this would slow the vehicle down. This wouldn’t make that much difference if it happened for a couple of miles, but if you drive your car with under-inflated tires for weeks at a time, you could see quite a significant drop in fuel efficiency. Similar problems occur when the tread on your tires wears out. Without the right depth of tread, the tires can’t grab the road’s surface, which means they can slip on the road. Once again, the engine must work harder to allow them to gain traction, further increasing the amount of fuel you use.
Make sure your tires are correctly inflated whenever you drive your car. Take time to check your tire pressure at least once a week. You can buy a small tire pressure monitor for use at home, or you can find larger machines at the service station. If you want to know the correct tire pressure for the make and model of your car, check the owner’s manual, or contact your dealer for more advice. It takes no time at all to check your tire pressure, but it could save you a lot of money in the long run.
