Every tyre sold in the UK carries a fuel efficiency rating, from A down to E.
These can give you a real understadning into how tyres have a measurable effect on your fuel consumption - or EV's range.
It's important to know what the fuel efficiency rating means - and why it's worth paying attention to. To make sure you are selecting the best tyre for your needs. Be it a desire to refuel less often, or to extend your driving range.
Different tyres deliver different results. Taking into account the fuel efficiency of a tyre can be a very useful element when picking your next set of tyres.
Why Fuel Efficiency Matters
- Fuel efficiency affects your running costs. The UK's Vehicle Certification Agency estimates that the difference between the best and worst fuel efficiency ratings can be worth around 7.5% of your fuel economy. Similarly, the European Commission puts a single grade difference at around 80 litres of fuel over a tyre's lifetime. Based on the average price at the pertrol pumps, that's roughly £120 depending on which tyre you buy.
- It matters just as much if you drive an electric car. Rolling resistance - the technical term for how much energy it takes to keep a tyre turning - has a direct line to your range on an EV. Fitting a tyre with meaningfully higher rolling resistance than the one your EV came with can cost you real miles of range.
- It's better for the environment. Lower rolling resistance means less energy burned per mile. Whatever powers your car. Less fuel used, or less strain on the grid charging your battery.
None of that means you should buy the most efficient tyre regardless of anything else though. How the tyre affects grip, braking distance and it's tread life all matter highly too.
A car tyre that delivers brilliantly on efficiency, but mediocre in wet conditions, isn't likely the right choice for many drivers.
But when two tyres are otherwise well matched for your car, the fuel efficiency rating can turn out to be useful tiebreaker.