Driving can be a stressful experience, particularly if you don’t have the necessary knowledge. Thankfully, there are plenty of tips and tricks available for drivers. There are many things you might not know about cars that can help you to save money and improve your fuel efficiency.
For example, keeping your tires properly inflated could improve your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 5%. Whether you drive a sedan or an SUV, proper tire inflation is essential for optimal performance.
According news organization CBC.CA ….
Every five pounds per square inch (psi) of tire pressure you lose can translate into a two per cent loss of gas mileage.
CBC.CA
As well as improving your car’s fuel efficiency, maintaining correct tire pressure can also prevent other problems such as loss of control, premature wear, uneven tire wear and more. Let’s see if keeping your tires properly inflated could improve your car’s fuel economy and how you can do it yourself at home.
Why Keeping Your Tires Properly Inflated Improves Fuel Efficiency
Most drivers know that keeping their tires properly inflated can help to reduce the risk of a blowout. However, few know that it can also improve fuel efficiency. The reason for this is that as tires become under-inflated, they are forced to work harder due to increased rolling resistance.
This places added strain on your car’s engine, increasing fuel consumption. Likewise, over-inflated tires can also be inefficient, albeit in a different way. When tires are over-inflated, they are forced to work less hard due to reduced rolling resistance. This can save fuel, but it can also lead to premature wear and even dangerous blowouts.
How Maintaining Correct Tire Pressure Improves Fuel Efficiency
As we’ve seen, under-inflated tires put more strain on your engine and cause it to work harder. Conversely, over-inflated tires require less effort from both the engine and the tires themselves. As a result, maintaining correct tire pressure can improve your car’s fuel efficiency by around 2%.
This is because the combustion process in an engine requires a certain amount of air. Engines that don’t have enough air will be less efficient as they try to make up for the deficit. In contrast, engines that have too much air are less efficient.
When your tires are under-inflated, they require more effort to travel through the road surface, which increases the amount of fuel consumed. Likewise, when your tires are over-inflated, they require less effort, which leads to less fuel being used.
Why is proper tire inflation important?
As well as improving your car’s fuel efficiency, maintaining correct tire pressure can help to reduce tire wear, improve handling and enhance your car’s safety. When tires are under-inflated, they can experience premature wear due to the increased strain on the rubber.
The constant effort required to move the car can also lead to excessive wear on the inside of the tire. In addition, the reduced contact between the tire and the road surface can decrease traction, which can be dangerous in certain conditions.
When tires are over-inflated, they are at risk of blowouts due to the reduced contact with the road surface. This can lead to a dangerous accident. Correct tire pressure also improves your car’s handling.
When tires are under-inflated, they tend to be stiffer and produce less grip when cornering. Likewise, over-inflated tires are softer, which can make it more difficult to control the car in certain situations.
How to measure and maintain your tire pressure
If you want to improve your car’s fuel efficiency and reduce wear and tear, you must check your tire pressure on a regularly scheduled basis. Most drivers recommend checking your tire pressure once a month or once every couple of months.
You should also check your tire pressure before every long trip. There are many ways to check your tire pressure. You can use a tire pressure gauge, an app on your smartphone or even a smart car system. It’s important to use the correct method for your particular car.
If you don’t use the correct method, you might not get an accurate reading. There are specific instructions for each car model, so make sure you follow them. If you’re not sure how to check your tire pressure, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Conclusion
Driving is an essential part of modern life, but it can be stressful and dangerous. There are plenty of tips and tricks that can help you to feel more comfortable behind the wheel and improve your car’s performance.
One essential part of this is keeping your tires properly inflated. This can improve your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 5% and reduce wear and tear. If you want to make sure your tires are correctly inflated, you must check them regularly.
