Low Rolling Resistance Tires
Rolling resistance is the energy lost from drag and friction of a tire rolling over a surface. The phenomenon is complex, and nearly all operating conditions can affect the final outcome. Conventionally fueled passenger vehicles use about 4%–11% of their fuel just to overcome tire rolling resistance. All-electric passenger vehicles can use approximately 25% of their energy for this purpose. For heavy trucks, this quantity can be as high as 30%–33%(PDF). A 10% reduction in rolling resistance would improve fuel economy approximately 3%(PDF) for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Installing low rolling resistance tires can help fleets reduce fuel costs. It's also important to ensure proper tire inflation.
New cars are generally equipped with low rolling resistance tires that offer better fuel economy. This helps the auto manufacturer meet its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas emission requirements. However, no requirements are currently placed on replacement tires. Therefore, if you want to purchase fuel-efficient replacement tires, you must research to determine which tires have low rolling resistance.
Reprinted from afdc.energy.gov.com