How Much Is That Tire In The Window? The One With the Really High Rolling Resistance

Saturn is asking buyers to "Rethink" and with fuel prices soaring, tire buyers are going to have to do the same thing. The problem that tire buyers are now realizing is that when it comes to fuel consumption, not all tires are created equal. According to experts, efficiency can vary by as much as half from tire to tire, and can reduce fuel economy by 10% or more. As Scooby Doo would say...Ruh-Ro!

To further complicate matters, there is no set standard on how to score and report fuel efficiency of tires. At least this part is changing. There are plans afoot to create a sort of "Energy Star" rating system for tires. The problem is, these plans have been around since as early as 2003 in California and there's no system in place yet. In fact, you can comfort yourself in the fact you'll know all the mysteries of the show Lost when it wraps up in 2010 before there is any chance that a national labeling system for tire efficiency will be in place.

At the end of this LA Times article there was no magic answer for consumers. I do have a few suggestions for you. Firstly, never take a tire dealer's word for it. I'm not dissing sales people per se, but they probably don't have all the info out there on the most efficient tire for your car, especially if they don't sell that product line. The other thing to consider is, do you want the most efficient tire for you car? You might be giving up a lot of that juicy, corning goodness you've come to love when you slap on a set or rock hard, rolling donuts. I'd recommend that you check online, first by looking at the various tire manufacturer web sites and see what they list as their most fuel efficient options. Then head on over to sites like Tire Rack and see what the reviews are for the tire. A stop by an enthusiast forum for you particular vehicle, like SiennaClub.org, could further help your search.

Given the cost of fuel, the increasing price of tires and the constantly extending life that our rubber friends provide, choosing a tire today is a spendy, long term commitment that can greatly affect your life. Sound like anything else :-) ?

Choose wisely.