Do Tires Affect MPG?

Hand Wiping Down Car Tire
For those who are, particularly safety-conscious around Mesa, tire care is one of the most important ways to have a secure driving experience. Whether it’s rotating your tires or having a smoother roadway commute near Surprise, tire maintenance is essential.

 

 

At Cactus Jack's Auto, we get a lot of auto maintenance questions and tires come up frequently. “Do bigger wheels affect MPG?,” “Do bigger tires affect MPG?,” “Can I add LED lights to my tires?” Well, we’ll answer two of those questions today. So do auto tires affect MPG?

Find out below with our sales staff and we’ll answer the following:

  • Do bigger tires affect MPG?
  • Do bigger wheels affect MPG?
  • How much does tire weight affect MPG?
  • And more!

Read on to learn more and you’ll get all those answers.

Do Bigger Tires Affect MPG? What is Rolling Resistance?

Do bigger tires affect MPG? The reality is yes they will. Yet why will bigger car wheels affect MPG? The truth is when you put your vehicle in drive, “rolling resistance” is a force that slows down your tires. This represents the friction between your tires and the ground. At the same time, the more resistance you have, the poorer your fuel economy.

If you have larger tires, they’ll be more rolling resistance, contributing to poor rolling resistance. Tire size, air drag, and road quality can all have an impact on how much resistance your tires experience. For those wanting to avoid asking “Do tires affect MPG?” consider low-resistance tires with thinner sidewalls, lower weight, and shallower treads.

How Much Does Tire Weight Affect MPG?

Another major question is, “How much does tire weight affect MPG?” The key factors are this:

  • Since a smaller object takes less energy to move than a larger one, larger tires will require the engine to burn more fuel to move the vehicle.
  • Smaller tires and wheels require far less engine output and handle stop-and-go city traffic.
  • Are there benefits to larger, heavier tires? Indeed! Larger tires are ideal for heavy-duty vehicles while covering more distance when they’re rolling. This offers a solid MPG boost, whenever you’re traveling on the highways outside of Mesa.

Learn More About Car Care With Cactus Jack's Auto

Now that we’ve summed up “Does bigger tires affect MPG?” Cactus Jack's Auto is here to assist you with our vehicle inventory. Check out our weekly specials and see how else you can save money. If you have more questions about auto topics, we have posts dedicated to them. Whether it’s cleaning leather car seats, car detailing, or the importance of oil changes, we’ve got you covered. Find your next car in Phoenix with Cactus Jack's Auto! See you shortly!

 

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