Tyre checks recommended to save on rising fuel costs

Petrol and diesel prices have surged to record highs in recent weeks, as we suffer the shocks from the ongoing energy crisis.

Sadly, there’s little motorists can do to curb the rising fuel prices. But there are things you can do to make each litre of fuel – and each penny you spend – go further, such as taking care of your tyres to improve the fuel efficiency of your car.

Performing simple maintenance checks while also monitoring your driving habits can significantly improve fuel economy and save you having to fill up more often than is absolutely necessary – not to mention making sure you’ve got the right tyres fitted to your car in the first place.

We know from surveys that we have carried out in Ireland that motorists rarely think about their tyres, so we shouldn’t be surprised to hear that most drivers here underestimate the influence of their tyres on their fuel economy. Performing regular checks and ensuring the tyres on your car are operating as efficiently as possible will make a considerable difference.

Properly inflated tyres can help to reduce fuel consumption. Your vehicle’s tyres generally lose about one PSI per month, so it is recommended that you check their pressure when cold, at least monthly, and preferably fortnightly.

To check the tyre pressure, always look for the car’s recommended pressure levels, which can be found in the owner’s manual, inside the fuel cap or on the door pillar.

When the time comes for replacing your tyres, fuel economy is a key consideration. Any good tyre fitter will be able to advise on a suitable replacement for your vehicle – with similar characteristics to the tyre that the manufacturer fitted it with when it was brand new.

Always pay attention to the EU Tyre Label that must appear on the tyre before you buy it. An ‘A’ rating for rolling resistance tells you that the tyre rolls very efficiently – meaning it takes less power, and therefore less fuel, to move the vehicle. Rolling resistance is the energy a vehicle needs to maintain a constant speed. The main factor that contributes to rolling resistance is an action known as hysteresis – this is fundamentally the energy loss that occurs as a tyre rolls through the footprint.