Fuel Economy

What is fuel economy? In simple terms, fuel economy is the distance travelled paired with the fuel consumed by a certain vehicle. While it sounds simple it can be really quite complex and could involve anything from type of petrol to imposed fuel restrictions.

While two individuals may own exactly the same car, drivability and fuel economy may vary. There are a number of things you can do to have a fuel efficient vehicle. It is measured by litres per 100 kilometres. A new car may be advertised with a specific fuel economy or milage however this does not account for load, passenger or cargo, different fuels, engine, tyres, or driving habits such as braking, speed or idling. It is worth noting fuel consumption and fuel economy do mean different things. Fuel consumption refers to how much fuel a car consumes to go a specific distance while fuel economy means essentially the opposite.

Check out the Australian governments Green Vehicle Guide to help you with your future car purchases here.

Fuel efficiency is defined by both the converted energy successively getting the car to move and the requirements and treatment of the driver. There isn’t too much to look into beyond what is advertised for your vehicle and vehicle design. The first step in looking for a fuel efficient vehicle is comparing your needs to the specifications of the car such as load carrying capacity if you expect to be driving around with heavy loads. Intended purpose is key. Although a vehicle may advertise superior fuel efficiency, does it have other features such as a load carrying capacity. If it doesn’t this will generally rule out the other benefits.

Fuel consumption is so specific that if you spend your days travelling on dirt or rough roads, up or down steep hills, driving with aggression and constantly braking and accelerating you are probably doing yourself more damage than you realise. At Bud’s Tyres we understand your daily travel itinerary cannot be avoid. Thats why we have tyres to do all of the heavy lifting for us and look after our fuel economy.

Tyre Pressure

Tyre pressure has a direct correlation with fuel consumption. An under inflated tyre increases the drag of a vehicle therefore influencing fuel economy. In other words, when a tyre has more contact with the road, there is more friction pushing the engine to work harder. An increase in rolling resistance means that more energy is required to overcome it. When tyres are inflated to the recommended PSI, they will distribute weight across a wider surface area. Tyre pressure is essential to safety so should be closely monitored. The great thing about this is you are also looking after your fuel economy without even noticing or putting in any extra effort. It should be noted that it is the air pressure inside of your tyre that supports the entire weight of the vehicle and its load.

Uneven Wear

Uneven wear shares similar qualities to tyre pressure in that it causes more friction. Irregular tread wear is often a result of incorrect tyre pressure.

Misalignment

Misalignment means your wheels aren’t working how they should. This puts a strain on your vehicle. Your tyres are fighting against each other for control to go in a different direction. Your engine is trying its best to combat this and therefore is compromising your fuel economy. Just like underinflation, misalignment causes your tyres to drag rather than roll freely.

Load

The heavier the load the more weight your vehicle is carrying. Fuel consumption is put to the test when carrying around that heavy load, particularly when braking and accelerating. Load rating is something to look for when planning to make a new car purchase if you believe your will be regularly carting around a bit of extra weight.

Fuel Efficient Tyres

Fuel efficient tyres are tyres that feature a low rolling resistance. The wrong tyres or set of circumstances can effect fuel efficiency by up to 20%. ‘Fuel Efficient’ or ‘Eco’ tyres require less energy and fuel. They tend to have a slightly higher price tag than your standard cheap passenger tyre however, are generally less that most mid-range and high end tyres. It is worthing coming in-store and having a chat with us about fuel efficient tyres. Ask us about our:

Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Michelin Defender

Continental Pure Contact EcoPlus Technology

Bridgestone Ecopia

Pirelli Scorpion Verge