Do Tires Affect MPG?

Tires are one of the most important features of your car or SUV. The tires help keep your vehicle on the road with the right treads, and they allow your vehicle to stop properly. Tires are also a vital safety feature, just like the brakes, whether you drive a zippy luxury sedan that tops out at 200 mph or a massive SUV that seats eight and tows 8,000 pounds.

Tire care is essential for a safe driving experience. A tire rotation every 7,500 miles gives you smoother rides while reducing tire wear and improving handling on Chamblee and Brookhaven roads.

Tires can also improve your fuel economy. Find out everything you need to know with our guide.

Do Tires Affect the MPG of Your Vehicle?

The answer is yes. Tires do have an impact on the performance and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. We’ll answer other questions, too.

Do Bigger Wheels Affect MPG?

Yes, they do because they add weight to the vehicle. Bigger wheels will require bigger tires attached to them. The wheels of your vehicle are the round metal components the tires fit upon.

Why Do Bigger Tires Affect MPG?

Perhaps it comes down to rolling resistance. This is what engineers call the force that slows down your tires as they hit the road. Rolling resistance is the friction between your tires and the ground. So, increased rolling resistance equates to poorer fuel economy.

Larger tires have more rolling resistance because they take longer to perform a single revolution as your car moves forward. As such, they contribute to poor fuel economy due to larger tires needed for heavier vehicles.

Along with tire size, air drag, road quality, and tire inflation play a role in how much friction the ground causes on your tires. If you want to boost your fuel economy, invest in low-resistance tires with thinner sidewalls, lower weight, and shallower treads. But the caveat with shallower treads is that you’ll have to get new tires more often because they wear out sooner.

How Much Does Tire Weight Affect MPG?

The overall weight of your vehicle can change the fuel economy, so the weight of your tires matters. Heavier vehicles generally need bigger tires, and heavier vehicles generally have poorer fuel efficiency.

Find out more about tire weight and fuel efficiency here.

• A smaller object takes less energy to move than a larger one. Therefore, larger tires require the engine to expend more fuel or use more electricity to move the vehicle.
• Smaller tires and wheels require less engine output and handle stop-and-go city traffic better.

Do Larger, Heavier Tires Have Any Benefits?

Absolutely, they do. Larger tires come in handy for heavy-duty vehicles, like full-size SUVs such as the Acura MDX. They also cover more distance once they start rolling. When traveling on the highway, larger and heavier tires give your vehicle improved fuel efficiency because you don’t have to stop as often. Heavier tires might also grip the road better by putting more tread in contact with the ground, which is vital for extra handling.

Come to Us for Your Car Tire Maintenance!

We want your Dunwoody travels to be safe and secure in your high-performance luxury vehicle. That’s why we offer guides like these to help you understand your vehicle better. Contact us, call 912-207-7991, or schedule service with our team for all of your maintenance needs. We’re happy to help in any way we can.