Although fuel prices have relaxed a bit since their all-time high in 2008, you're probably still concerned about helping increase your vehicle's fuel economy any way you can. One often-touted method for increasing your miles per gallon is to inflate your tires beyond the manufacturer's recommendations, decreasing the amount of work your engine must do to turn your wheels a full rotation. However, if done incorrectly, this practice can be dangerous for your tires and for your physical safety. Read on to learn more about proper tire inflation and some safer ways you can improve your fuel economy.
Does overinflating your tires lower fuel consumption while driving?
Each tire and vehicle has slightly different inflation specifications. Most tires have both minimum and maximum inflation parameters (measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI). Underinflating your tires below the minimum PSI could cause a sudden loss in pressure that might lead to a traffic accident, while inflating your tires over the maximum PSI could cause a blowout, shredding your tire and requiring you to purchase a new one.
However, for years car specialists have recommended slightly overinflating your tires to improve fuel economy and compensate for the small daily losses in pressure that occur with typical use. It is estimated that for each 1 PSI drop in your tire pressure, your fuel economy will decrease by about 0.4 percent. If (like many car owners) you don't regularly check your tire pressure, over time your tires will deflate and compromise your gas mileage.
How can you improve your vehicle's fuel economy without overinflating your tires?
While slightly overinflating your tires and then letting them ride can be one of the easiest routes to improved fuel economy, you're still risking the health of your tires and your own physical safety by risking a blowout while driving. Your better bet is to regularly check your tire pressure and ensure that your PSI is at or near the maximum specifications set by your tire's manufacturer. This will ensure that you're within the guidelines for your own tires (which is much less risky than overinflation), while also helping save you money at the gas pump.
Some other ways to improve fuel economy are to combine trips and to avoid idling. If you tend to let your car run in a parking lot to keep the heat or air conditioning on while you're inside, you should know that you're using about a quarter of a gallon of gas for each 15 minutes your car spends idling and not driving. By shutting your car off during extended visits, you should be able to save a substantial amount of money.
For more information on car tires, visit companies like Bearsch's United Auto Center.
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