Birmingham,
22
March
2021
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17:04
Europe/Amsterdam

Six ways your tyres could save you money

Everyone likes to save a few pennies here and there, especially where our cars are concerned. Browsing the best finance deals, going out of our way for that one garage with the best fuel prices… we all have our own little tips and tricks when it comes to saving a few quid.

But I suspect you’ve never thought about how your tyres might save you some cash. There are steps you can take to ensure that they last as long as possible, so that you aren’t regularly shouldering the expense of replacing of them. But tyres also have a huge impact on your fuel consumption. As the only contact between your car and the road, if you fit the right tyres, and make sure to take good care of them, they’ll be sure to save you pennies at the pumps.

We’ve listed below a few different methods that you might want to consider. Whether your goal is to avoid having to replace tyres in your MOT, be kind to the environment, or simply making them last a little longer, there are ways to do it.

Check your tyre pressures

No matter what kind of tyres you have, you need to keep them properly inflated to get the best possible fuel consumption. Underinflated tyres can increase fuel consumption anywhere between 0.6% and 3%*. The more underinflated your tyres are, the more fuel you'll use. But it’s also important to be aware that under-inflation can cause damage, meaning you may need to fork out sooner than you’d like on replacing them.

Many vehicles are now fitted with electronic tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to help keep an eye on this. That said, pressures should still be checked manually with a pressure gauge. To find the right pressure for your vehicle's tyres, take a look either in your handbook or at the sticker on the inside of the driver-side door. But remember, don't go by the maximum pressure reading on the side of your tyre. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Inspect your tyre treads

Just like your pressures, you should check your tyre treads regularly. Look at the bars in-between the treads themselves, as well as the centre or outside edges, for obvious signs of wear and any embedded objects. Keeping them clear and making sure that there isn’t any irregular wear can go a long towards ensuring your tyres perform for as long as possible.

On the subject of wear, rotating your tyres could be another way to ensure they last longer. Tyres fitted at the front of a vehicle usually wear differently than those on the rear, but by changing their position – from front to rear and vice versa – their lifespan can be extended. Rotation periods vary, but if you frequently drive at high speeds or undertake long or fully laden journeys, more regular rotations are recommended.

Shop around

If you're looking for new tyres, and are browsing specifically with fuel consumption in mind, there are a few things you need to look out for. The first is rolling resistance; this is essentially the effort needed to keep a tyre rolling. A high rolling resistance tyre means your engine will need to work harder to keep your wheels moving. If you’re looking to save fuel, it's important to look – or perhaps even ask at your local garage – for tyres with low rolling resistance, which is identified by a rating on the EU Tyre Label, similar to those found on white goods. These tyres are manufactured with advanced rubber compound formulations and innovative tread patterns to achieve the desired effect.

The next thing to look out for is the weight of a tyre, as a lighter tyre is ultimately going to reduce the overall weight of your car. While this difference might seem insignificant, your car's engine isn't going to be working quite as hard without that extra weight. Over tens of thousands of miles, this can make a huge difference to your fuel economy, CO2 emissions and inevitably the environment too.

Rolling resistance and weight are two prime concerns for tyre manufacturers. At Goodyear, for instance, we’re working to reduce rolling resistance by 40% and tyre weight by 9% by 2025 — from a 2005 baseline — across our entire consumer portfolio.

Look for tyres that’ll take you further

You have a bit of research under your belt, so you’ll start to see that there are plenty of tyres out there employing the latest technology and manufacturing techniques to take you further.

For instance, tyres built for efficiency and comfort (often called touring tyres) are a great choice for long journeys. Not only could you see a reduction in fuel consumption, but they’ll also filter the effect of small bumps in the road's surface, making for a smoother ride. Performance tyres, on the other hand, feature tread patterns and rubber compounds made for grip. This means improved responsiveness and handling on the road (or the track!), but the trade-off is often increased fuel consumption.

There are some tyres that offer the best of both worlds, though. Take our very own EfficientGrip Performance 2. Designed with fuel efficiency in mind, these tyres also offer great handling and braking performance in dry or wet conditions, just in case you come up against tricky conditions, or even want to simply enjoy an exciting ride.

Switch tyres for the seasons

 Fitting appropriate tyres for the time of year can also help them to stay in good condition for longer. Winter tyres for, example, will provide much better grip and traction than summer tyres when the temperature drops below 7°c. However, they will also wear out faster if they are used on hot surfaces, so swap to summer tyres again when temperatures rise.

At face-value, specialist tyres like these can be quite an investment, but if you’re vigilant and make sure to swap them over as the seasons change, you’ll see the benefit. Alternatively, all-season tyres, which provide great performance and any weather, could be well-worth considering.

Improve your driving habits

Good driving habits can go a long way towards reducing the need to frequently purchase new tyres. A smooth and gentle driving style, taking care to avoid road surface imperfections, will increase the life of your tyres and ensure they give their best performance. Hard acceleration and braking, or aggressive driving over speed bumps and potholes, will ultimately damage your tyres.

If you’re keen to reduce your fuel consumption and in turn reduce your fuel costs, you need to drive economically. This means going easy on your inputs; brake smoothly and accelerate gently, where possible. But you should also pay attention to your tyres.

For more information on how to look after our tyres, visit: https://www.goodyear.eu/en_gb/consumer/learn/maintaining-your-tire.html

About Goodyear

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs around 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.

For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.