There are many factors to slow down or stop your car from moving. Your car’s weight, aerodynamics, inertia, and even traction are some of them. One such force is the rolling resistance of your tyres. As the name suggests, it is a force that makes your tyre resist rolling. Although equally if not more important, many car owners either ignore to take rolling resistance into account or don’t even know about it. However, do you know that it takes your engine almost 4 to 7% of the total energy it generates just to overcome this resistance?
What Is Rolling Resistance?
When you accelerate your car, the engine burns fuel to generate the energy that is required to move the vehicle. The energy moves your tyres and makes your car function. However, it is not simple. Your car has to overcome a lot of factors, one of them being the rolling resistance of your tyres.
Rolling resistance is a force that is applied to the tyres. It is the energy required by your tyres so that they can move. The higher the resistance, the more energy your engine has to exert, which means more fuel consumption, pollution, and cost. Data shows that almost 4% of the world’s carbon footprint can be directly attributed to tyres with high rolling resistance. Thus, you’d ideally want a tyre with low resistance so that you save on fuel, and at the same time help the environment.
Rolling resistance can be high or low, depending on a few factors, such as your tyre’s tread design, the compound used in making the tyres, the road conditions, and so on. So, the next time you buy car tyres in Liverpool, learn more about how much rolling resistance they offer and whether the shop has some low-rolling-resistance tyres in stock.
Can You Reduce Rolling Resistance? How?
When you are driving your car, you must take rolling resistance into account. Since you can’t really avoid it, you should find ways to reduce it. And yes, it is possible. Based on what tyres you buy, you can have low rolling resistance. For this, you must consider the following factors:
Tread Design
If you are wondering how a tread design can affect your rolling resistance, then you must first take a look at an off-road tyre. Such tyres have a deep tread and big tread blocks to help them grip the road. However, the car has to expend much energy for these tyres to move. But in their case, it is a plus, as a high rolling resistance allows off-road tyres to gain more traction and provide a much better road grip. Thus, if you are looking for low-rolling resistance tyres, you must choose tyres with opposite features. Which is smaller tread blocks and a much shallower tread depth. As long as a tyre has a more connected design, it will have lower rolling resistance.
Rubber Material Used
How your tyres are made also plays a huge role in reducing rolling resistance. Modern synthetic rubber tyres are often more heat-resistant, thus making the loss of heat minimal, which results in a better grip and a lower rolling resistance.
Reinforced Sidewalls
If your tyres have reinforced sidewalls, it will lessen the stress on the tyres, allowing them to retain their shape. A deformed tyre will always have a higher rolling resistance, which is often the case when you drive with underinflated tyres. Thus, using a durable tyre with a reinforced sidewall will improve your fuel efficiency, as it will lower rolling resistance.
Smaller Contact Patch
Here, the importance of correct tyre pressure is apparent. When your tyres are inflated properly, the contact patch narrows down to the exact size that will counter rolling resistance pretty easily. Thus, you should always ensure that your tyres have the right amount of air.
Do low-rolling-resistance Tyres work?
If you are thinking of buying brand-new Pirelli tyres in Liverpool, but don’t know whether you should get low-rolling resistance tyres or not, then you must read the following before making a choice. Low-rolling resistance tyres have certain advantages that are harder to ignore. A study shows that when you use such tyres, you might save up to £400 over the lifespan of the tyres. This alone is a very tempting factor. Furthermore, such tyres tend to be environmentally friendly. Here are a few benefits of low-rolling resistance tyres:
Improved fuel efficiency
First, you must take into account the amount of fuel you will end up saving, using a low-rolling resistance tyre. Almost every tyre manufacturer offers such tyres. When your tyres have a low rolling resistance, the engine has to exert less energy to make your car move, which saves fuel.
Better Traction
Another good thing about such tyres is that they help with traction. Traction is a very important force that allows your tyres to grip the road. If you like better handling and a stable drive, then you must consider low-rolling resistance tyres.
Cost savings
Buying and maintaining tyres are already costly enough. So when you can save money on fuel by simply switching to a low-rolling resistant tyre, you must do so. These tyres are designed with a reinforced sidewall and are more durable, which will save you money on repairs. Furthermore, the raw materials that go into its manufacturing are of high quality, meaning a longer lifespan. Then, there is the enhanced fuel efficiency that will help you save some more.
