Tire Rack Tests for Low Rolling Resistance Tires
It takes energy to drive a car on a road, and some of that energy is converted into force that overcomes the friction in the transmission and the rolling resistance of the tires. View here for more info: best low rolling resistance tires
While the driver doesn't have much to do with the first two after they've bought the car, the question is, can eco-friendly tires with low rolling resistance have a noticeable impact on fuel consumption, operating costs and the environment? The answer is yes.
About 80% of the mass of a tire is made up of rubber, which is a viscoelastic material that, by virtue of its natural properties, converts part of the energy into heat during compression or stretching. Rolling resistance is primarily caused by the sidewalls and treads constantly contracting and stretching as the wheel rotates and the load is redistributed (when the weight of the car causes the sidewalls to "inflate" and the tread to "flatten" against the road).
In the past, rolling resistance has not been extensively researched or measured, so there is not enough information for comparison. However, given that every gallon of fuel saved reduces the personal costs of drivers and America's dependence on oil, as well as its carbon footprint, information on rolling resistance and its impact on fuel consumption will be available at a more manageable level. over the next couple of years thanks to federal and California law.
While rolling resistance has often been reduced in the past to the detriment of wet grip and tread durability, the latest high-tech, fuel-efficient tires with reduced rolling resistance do not lose their other essential qualities thanks to new rubber compounds and manufacturing processes that optimize tire weight.
In 2009, many manufacturers released their tires with low rolling resistance, and the Tire Rack team decided it was time to evaluate the impact that these tires have on fuel consumption, and also to make sure that wet grip was not sacrificed for this. ... Consumption measurement became part of the road test, which also evaluated wet and dry grip during cornering and braking.
While the driver doesn't have much to do with the first two after they've bought the car, the question is, can eco-friendly tires with low rolling resistance have a noticeable impact on fuel consumption, operating costs and the environment? The answer is yes.
About 80% of the mass of a tire is made up of rubber, which is a viscoelastic material that, by virtue of its natural properties, converts part of the energy into heat during compression or stretching. Rolling resistance is primarily caused by the sidewalls and treads constantly contracting and stretching as the wheel rotates and the load is redistributed (when the weight of the car causes the sidewalls to "inflate" and the tread to "flatten" against the road).
In the past, rolling resistance has not been extensively researched or measured, so there is not enough information for comparison. However, given that every gallon of fuel saved reduces the personal costs of drivers and America's dependence on oil, as well as its carbon footprint, information on rolling resistance and its impact on fuel consumption will be available at a more manageable level. over the next couple of years thanks to federal and California law.
While rolling resistance has often been reduced in the past to the detriment of wet grip and tread durability, the latest high-tech, fuel-efficient tires with reduced rolling resistance do not lose their other essential qualities thanks to new rubber compounds and manufacturing processes that optimize tire weight.
In 2009, many manufacturers released their tires with low rolling resistance, and the Tire Rack team decided it was time to evaluate the impact that these tires have on fuel consumption, and also to make sure that wet grip was not sacrificed for this. ... Consumption measurement became part of the road test, which also evaluated wet and dry grip during cornering and braking.
Cars
Unfortunately, not all of the latest low rolling resistance tires are available in sizes suitable for regular Tire Rack test vehicles, so a small fleet of 2009 Toyota Prius 2 Gen hybrid vehicles had to be built for this test. All vehicles have traveled the same number of miles and used the same conditions for the most accurate results possible.
In preparation for the test, the tires were fitted to standard Prius 15x6.0 "wheels, and all four wheels were adjusted to avoid unnecessary friction on the road, which affects fuel consumption.
Tires
At the start of testing, it was decided that the Goodyear Integrity tires (available in the US for the 2004-2009 Prius) would be the benchmark for testing. Their results were then compared to other tires that ranged from brand new tires currently offered in the aftermarket for compact, fuel efficient cars to Goodyear Assurance ComforTread tires launched in 2004, even before eco tires became popular. They are distinguished by a compacted rubber layer (by 20%) between the tread and the breakers, which puts ride comfort and durability above the reduction in fuel consumption.
All-season tires are the preferred choice for drivers living in temperate geographic regions where there may be little snow on the roads. Summer tires are designed for those who live in the "sunny belt", where tires only need to cope with dry and wet surfaces, or for drivers of the "snow belt" who change tires for winter ones every year.
Tire pressure
It was possible to start with a higher than standard pressure level in unheated tires to reduce fuel consumption, but it was decided to adhere to the recommendations of the manufacturers. In addition, according to Tire Rack experts, while low pressure levels increase rolling resistance, higher pressure levels do not reduce it to the same extent.
