Originally Posted By: bretfraz
I've read that hybrids are sensitive to tire choices. Gotta stick with the low rolling resistance models.
Well, given a percentage difference in rolling resistance, they can appear to be more sensitive. If Tire A provides a 5% increase in fuel economy over Tire B, at 45 MPG, that's a 2.3 MPG difference -- measurable. But on a 18 MPG pickup truck...0.9 MPG...probably not measurable (or at least noticed). Hybrid owners are also likely paying more attention to their fuel economy, reporting even the smallest difference.
Originally Posted By: bretfraz
I can't see tire choice making a difference in mileage, unless you own a hybrid.
It will, but it just won't be as noticeable if you're only getting 15 MPG. Even a 10% change is only 1.5 MPG. It'd be measurable over time, but probably not noticed on a daily basis. I mentioned an acquaintance of mine who reported a consistent 3% reduction in fuel economy when he bought new Cooper CS4 Touring tires compared with his old ones (I don't know what they were). And this is on a Kia minivan, so maybe 17 MPG overall. A 3% difference is a 0.5 MPG change at that overall level of fuel consumption. It's measurable, but only if you're really paying attention to it.
But that's only on a daily basis. Most folks don't recognize the impact over the life of the tire. Let's say you're in the market for new tires for your truck, and your truck averages 16 MPG overall. Tire A costs $750 for the set and Tire B costs $550 for the set. Initially, you look at the $200 initial cost difference and might scoff at the first set because of the price. A 5% difference in fuel economy is only 0.8 MPG afterall -- not even worth considering right?
Well, if you drive 10k miles a year and those tires last you 40k miles, that's 4 years of getting 16.8 MPG vs. 16.0 MPG, or a savings of about 120 gallons of gas. If gas prices average $3/gallon over the next 4 years, then that set of Tire B is costing you $360 more over the next four years compared with Tire A.
So while you might have initially scoffed at Tire A because of the $200 initial price premium, by buying Tire A instead of Tire B, you actually saved $160 bucks, and likely had a better and safer (better performing) tire over those 40,000 miles as well. Now, will you necessarily be able to find a tire that'll reduce your fuel consumption by 5%? Not always. But my point is only that rolling resistance plays more of a part in the lifetime cost of a set of tires than many folks realize, and a set with lower rolling resistance might just save you money in the end (in addition to saving the trees and the little squirrels and all that happy stuff).