Properly Inflated Tires Save Big at the Pump

Consumers who are trying to save at the pump need to take a closer look at the tire pressures on their vehicles.

According to a study conducted by Edmunds.com, drivers with significantly under-inflated tires can spend as much as $800 more per year more in fuel costs than if their tires were inflated correctly.

Maintaining properly inflated tires is one of the most important ways of improving fuel-efficiency and is safer and less likely to fail at high speeds.

Under-inflated tires require vehicles to take longer to come to a stop and are at high-risk to skid on wet roads. Studies also suggest that under-inflated tires are a likely cause of many SUV rollover accidents.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by three percent for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch), drop in pressure of all four tires.

Approximately sixty-six million vehicles are currently traveling on under-inflated tires according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

If U.S. consumers drive an estimated 12,000 miles annually on tires that are under-inflated by five to eight psi with a vehicle average of 22 miles per gallon, tire experts speculate that approximately 726 million gallons of gas are wasted every year.

As part of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act of 2000, Congress has mandated that automakers install tire pressure monitoring systems on all new cars, pickups and SUVs beginning in 2008.

To comply with the regulation, automakers will be required to attach tiny sensors to each wheel that will signal if a tire falls 25 percent below its recommended PSI rating. Car makers will likely spend as much as $70 per vehicle to install these sensors, a cost that will no doubt be passed along to consumers. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some 120 lives a year will be saved once all new vehicles are equipped with such systems. A small price to pay for saving a life.

• Mechanics suggest checking tire pressures at least once a month when the tires are cold (since recommended pressures are for cold tires) - at least three to four hours after it has been driven. Checking tire pressure on a vehicle that has "hot" tires can result in an increased pressure reading of up to 5 psi higher than what is actually in the tire.
• it is essential to rotate tires every every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. A wheel alignment should be checked annually since misalignment causes tire treads to slip and abrade; therefore, lowering fuel mileage while causing unnecessary wear and tear on tires.