Tyres' Impact on a Vehicle's Fuel Efficiency

The fuel consumption of a vehicle is something which drivers need to keep as low as possible. But when it comes to making a vehicle fuel-efficient, then vehicle owners get confused as they don't know what to do to reduce the vehicle's fuel consumption. They will focus on getting the engine tuned, changing their driving habits, or reducing the weight on the engine. But one crucial component that highly impacts the amount of fuel a vehicle consumes is its tyres. From the tyre pressure to their condition to their overall condition, tyres play a big role in determining how much fuel the vehicle will consume. So, let's explore the role of tyres in the fuel consumption of a vehicle, and what one needs to do to improve fuel efficiency. 

Rolling Resistance and Fuel Consumption 

The most crucial tyre-related factor in determining a vehicle's fuel efficiency is its rolling resistance. Rolling resistance is the force applied by car tyres Coventry that resists the motion when the tyres are rolling along the surface. The greater the rolling resistance, the more force the engine must apply to keep the vehicle moving, and therefore, more fuel will be consumed. It is also said that around 20% of the fuel consumed by the vehicle is up to tyres. Being so crucial means that tyres need to have low rolling resistance. To ensure the tyre's rolling resistance is low, various tyre manufacturers offer special low-rolling-resistance tyres. These tyres are made with special advanced rubber compounds which allow them to reduce the amount of energy loss when the vehicle is being driven. The tread pattern of these tyres helps minimise the amount of heat generated. Yes, these tyres might be a little more costly than the standard tyres available in the market, but they are totally worth it because of the amount one saves in terms of fuel. 

Tyres Pressure and Fuel Consumption 

A lot of drivers have this question of how the rolling resistance of a tyre is determined. The biggest factors which help in determining how much fuel a vehicle will consume are the tyre pressure, and having well-maintained tyre pressure is crucial to having a fuel-efficient vehicle. Driving around with underinflated tyres means that you are going to face the problem of increased fuel consumption. The reason for that is that, due to underinflation, the area of contact of the tyre to the surface will increase, which will cause an increase in rolling resistance. This will ultimately lead to increased fuel consumption. It should be noted that a change of only 1 PSI in tyre pressure can increase the vehicle's fuel consumption by around 0.2%. The right solution is for drivers to have the tyre pressure checked once a month. If it is not at the manufacturer's recommended level, they should visit a garage to have the tyre pressure topped up. One can find the right level of tyre pressure for a vehicle either in the owner's manual or on a sticker on the side of the driver's door. 

Tyre Tread and Fuel Consumption 

The next factor that can lead to a vehicle's fuel consumption is the tyre tread patterns. Tread is the design on the tyres, but it is more than just a way to make the tyres look good. If a tyre has an aggressive tread pattern, it will have excellent grip on uneven, rough terrain, but it might have increased rolling resistance. This means having an aggressive tread pattern will increase the vehicle's fuel consumption when the tyres are used on plain paths. That's why the best solution to this could be to equip vehicles with tyres that have an optimised tread pattern, because this will reduce rolling resistance and provide increased fuel efficiency to the vehicle. As time passes, the tyre tread will wear down, which can increase or decrease the amount of fuel it consumes. But it depends solely on the overall construction of the tyres. That's why, to have a fuel-efficient vehicle, drivers should choose tyres with a tread pattern suited to their driving conditions. They should also avoid using off-road or winter tyres year-round unless required, as they are not particularly fuel-efficient. Drivers can check the tyre labelling Coventry to see if they are fuel-efficient. 

Conclusion

Among all the components of a vehicle, tyres are the most underestimated when it comes to determining how much fuel it will consume. But, it should be clear from this blog that from the construction of tyres, to their tyre pressure, everything helps in determining the amount of fuel a vehicle will consume. That's why, if drivers want to have a fuel-efficient vehicle and want to save money on fuel, then they are advised to do proper research and have fuel-efficient tyres.