Tires: tires, best gas mileage, inflation pressure

Question
hello my question is what tires have the lowest rolling resistance for the best gas mileage

Answer
William,

This answer will surprise you.

You will be further ahead dollar wise if you buy a set of long wearing tires and inflating them 3 to 5 psi above what the placard pressure says.

Rolling resistance in tires only contributes a small amount to fuel consumption.  Even a major change in tires makes a minor change in fuel economy.  And major improvements in rolling resistnce are offset by degradation in wet traction and wear.  In other words, to save fuel using tires you would buy tires more often.

However, there is one thing that can be done to improve fuel economy that costs nothing and has few negative effects - inflation pressure.  Increasing the inflation pressure reduces rolling resistance while at the same time iproving tread wear.  

I suggest you use 3 to 5 psi above what is listed on your vehicle placard- where the original tire size and the proper pressure for that size is listed.  Vehicle placards are usually found on a doorpost or in the glove box.

And of course you need to check this pressure regularly - some say once a month - as tires leak very slowly.