WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF MY TYRES ON FUEL CONSUMPTION?

Did you know that tyres can account for up to 20% of a vehicle’s fuel consumption?

You need to choose them carefully to optimise your fuel consumption: tyre size, tyre pressure, and tyre wear are elements that you must take into account before buying tyres. 

The wider your tyre will be, the better it will roll. Low rolling resistance affects energy efficiency and is then important to reduce fuel consumption. Tyre pressure is crucial since low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance and impacts wet grip performance. Be sure to inflate your tyres properly!

Do not hesitate to contact your Point S centre to get some help or advices to choose the best tyres for your vehicle or to check your tyre pressure. 

WHICH OTHER FACTORS WILL REDUCE MY FUEL CONSUMPTION?

Other factors influence your fuel consumption like speed, driving in cold weather, the amount of air drag on your vehicle, traffic conditions and your vehicle configuration (engine type...). Here is some tips to optimise your fuel consumption :

• Shut off your engine for a stop lasting more than 30s: Today’s cars use electronic fuel injectors that permit to not waste fuel during startup. However, do not do it in street traffic since it can be dangerous because of switched-off cars.

• Adapt your driving style: If you want to drop your fuel invoice, we advise you to drive steadily. Also, when you drive too fast, your tyres may be deformed. Do you remember that tyres play an important role in fuel consumption?

• Fill up your gas tank in the morning when it’s not too hot: Fuel evaporates when it is too hot outside. You can have the same problem when your tank is empty. It is better to fill up your fuel tank before it is totally empty to avoid this phenomenon. 

• Close your windows and avoid heavy stuff: Do you have a roof box or a bicycle rack? If you don’t need them, don’t set them up. In fact, you should avoid all rooftop cargo carriers because they slow your car down, increasing your fuel consumption. Besides, avoid to open your windows especially on highways because it implies additional efforts and overconsumption.

HOW CAN I CALCULATE MY OWN FUEL CONSUMPTION?

You don’t need to be an expert to calculate your own fuel consumption. Point S gives you 3 easy methods to calculate it and then manage your fuel consumption:

• I look at the average consumption given by the constructor: Each car has a specific fuel efficiency (measured in litres/km) and an amount of fuel in the gas tank. When you buy your car, you get a technical specifications sheet on which you can find the average consumption of your car. It is an average so it may vary for each car driver. 

• I check on my dashboard: To get an exact indactor of your fuel consumption, you can consult your dashboard on which you can read the mlileage and the amount of fuel used. Think to set to 0 your trip odometer after your fill up your fuel tank to get your correct L/km consumption. It is recommended to wait a few minutes as during the first kilometers, your fuel consumption may be higher than usual.

• I calculate by myself: If your car doesn’t provide your L/km consumption but you want to know it by yourself anyway, you can set to 0 your trip odometer after you fill up your fuel tank. Now you know how many litres you put in your car and you will know how many kilometres you have done for this amount of fuel when it will be empty again. Then you only have to make the following calculation: (Number of litres/Number of kilometers) * 100. For instance, if you refueled 10L and you drove 200km until the tank is empty, you consumed 5L per 100km.

Doesn’t it look easy now? Choose your tyres carefully, change your driving habits, and your fuel invoice will progressively decrease. Besides, in reducing your fuel invoice, you will also drop your CO2 emissions which is good for the environment! 

For more information, make an appointment with our experts or visit your nearest Point S center !