TPMS and Fuel Efficiency

How Tire Pressure Affects Tire Wear and Fuel Economy

One of the primary reasons why motorists save money by maintaining proper tire inflation: Tires that wear evenly last longer before needing repair or replacement. In fact, some tire manufacturers advise that just 5 psi below placard pressure could lessen a tire's tread life by as much as 25%. Because a typical tire may also lose 1 to 2 psi a month if not checked and adjusted, uninformed motorists may be heading faster toward tire replacement than necessary.

But having the right tire pressure can also save you money at the pump. According to FuelEconomy.gov, a joint Web site of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in all four tires. The DOE estimates that 3.56 million gallons of gas are wasted each day because of incorrectly inflated tires and advises motorists that they can improve gas mileage by approximately 3.3% by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure.