Fuel consumption - tyre choice

gilbert_and_sullivan

Wrong time of year to be evaluating fuel consumtion, especially when it coincides with fitting winter type tyres.

We have Diesel vehicles and both of them have been appreciably heavier on fuel over the last few weeks, how much of that is down to the winter tyres is debatable on one, but the other doesn't have winter tyres and consumption has dropped from 50ish to 40ish.

Factor in the far less chance of accident by having tyres that grip, that levels things a bit, i've driven cars with these super fuel efficient tyres on them and i wouldn't give you a thankyou for them on a greasy road.

Hammyman

Mikex wrote: »

With the fuel price set to go to £10 gallon & beyond I guess we should all be thinking of replacing our worn tyres with new fuel savers.
As well as the financial saving running these fuel saver tyres has environmental benefits also.

Mike

You can get absolutely stuffed. There is no way in hell I would ever have any of those tyres anywhere near my car. Guess why they use less fuel? Because they all share one trait - A LACK OF GRIP.

When you're sliding straight on at a corner with those things on or sliding towards the car stopped in front of you in the rain, you'll be wishing you'd sacrificed 0.5MPG as you're ploughing towards a big insurance claim.

Anyway, most people would get more MPG than those tyres would have by simply learning to drive.

hubert_cumberdale

its all sales hype for the green freaks that beleive in global warming

Hintza

I'm having my own personal debate just now. Replace the Jeep with another set of All Terrain (AT) Tyres designed for 50:50 on and off road use or buy some new 80:20 tyres biased to road use.

I do enough off road work to make it debatable. But how much extra fuel does AT use over road biased tyres? Bearing in mind my fuel consumption is appalling and if I could reap another 10% it will probably be worth it.

If I buy new A/T Tyres they will probably last 50k-80k miles so I will have them a very long time.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any studies that have covered this?

mikey72

Hammyman wrote: »

You can get absolutely stuffed. There is no way in hell I would ever have any of those tyres anywhere near my car. Guess why they use less fuel? Because they all share one trait - A LACK OF GRIP.

When you're sliding straight on at a corner with those things on or sliding towards the car stopped in front of you in the rain, you'll be wishing you'd sacrificed 0.5MPG as you're ploughing towards a big insurance claim.

Anyway, most people would get more MPG than those tyres would have by simply learning to drive.

Once again, the unique debating style of Hammyman.
Michelin Energy - excellent tyre in the wet. They don't just polish a standard tyre and hope for the best.

Lum

What are you comparing the Michelin Energy to? the Primacy is supposed to be better than the Energy and I'm still not impressed with it, but my reference tyre is the Goodyear Eagle F1 which I have used on a variety of cars for about 8 years now.

mikey72

I've had a set of Pirelli P6000's it came with, they were quite good in 2004.
Oddly enough, I put a new pair on the front, and Goodyear NCT5's on the back, in 06, (using the odd spare). The P6000's were nowhere near as good as before, so I swopped front to back, then changed to costco and had energy E3B's all round in 09, they seem equal to the NCT5's.
Nokian's at the moment. Seem a little most "squishy" over white lines and cats eyes, but good grip. Almost like the tyre is flexing.
Before that I liked NCT Eagles on previous cars, and would rate the Michelins with them as well.

Mikex

Interesting subject about which little is known for sure. I am informed the manufacturers keep their rolling resistance data top secret.

As I said in my original post my tyres are Michelin XPC's 7.50 x 16 which are on my Land Rover Defener 110. It is not the most fuel efficient vehicle and you will understand I have no desire for the fuel consumption to increase by fitting the wrong tyres.

I had decided to buy a new set of wheels & tyres. The tyres were going to be Goodyear Wrangler in a mud pattern. Strictly speaking I do not need mud tyres but I just thought they would look the business. Then it came to my attention about the fuel consumption.

If I could find the RR of the Michelins and of the Wranglers I would be in the position to make a decision based on the data.

When I go to buy a washing machine, fridge, freezer or dishwasher I have the opportunity to decide on A B C or D rated appliances. Why not tyres??

Mike

Hammyman

mikey72 wrote: »

Once again, the unique debating style of Hammyman.
Michelin Energy - excellent tyre in the wet. They don't just polish a standard tyre and hope for the best.

Obviously you've never had decent tyres or you drive like Miss Daisy. I had Michelin Energies on my Capri. Great for powersliding out of roundabouts, even if that wasn't the intention.

mikey72

Hammyman wrote: »

Obviously you've never had decent tyres or you drive like Miss Daisy. I had Michelin Energies on my Capri. Great for powersliding out of roundabouts, even if that wasn't the intention.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: