regor
02-26-2010, 07:15 AM
Tires and fuel economy.
I drive a 08 Honda Civic LX. My average MPG since purchasing it has been 40mpg (I’ve keep a log since day one). Of course in the break-in period and during winter, my MPG has dropped, but during the regular time, I’ve averaged constantly in the low to mid 40s.
Well, it became time to buy some new tires and I wanted something that would last, so I wanted something with a high tread wear number. It was between the Michelin Hydoedge and Pirelli P5. Discount Tire had, at the time, the best price for both. Reviews were pretty much the same for both. I’ve experienced Michelins before so they were my preferred tire, but they would be $15 more per tire.
Discount did not have the Michelins in stock-they would have to be brought from their warehouse and would take a couple days, while the Pirelli’s were at another store and they could have it later that day. SO I picked the Pirelli’s.
After 1000 miles (And using a scangauge), my average MPG for my 81 mile RT commute has dropped down to 37 mpg. First 2 trips, I had kept the tires at 32 (What they had filled them at) psi, just wondering what my MPG would be at that PSI. I then pumped them up to my usual driving pressure of 40psi. Much to my surprise, my MPG has not increased.
I find this simply amazing that not only did my MPG drop with these new tires, but the MPG did not increase when I added 8PSI to each time. There had been 2 comments in the discount review about lost MPG, but the other reviewers that commented on that comment said that they saw no decrease.
I drive a 08 Honda Civic LX. My average MPG since purchasing it has been 40mpg (I’ve keep a log since day one). Of course in the break-in period and during winter, my MPG has dropped, but during the regular time, I’ve averaged constantly in the low to mid 40s.
Well, it became time to buy some new tires and I wanted something that would last, so I wanted something with a high tread wear number. It was between the Michelin Hydoedge and Pirelli P5. Discount Tire had, at the time, the best price for both. Reviews were pretty much the same for both. I’ve experienced Michelins before so they were my preferred tire, but they would be $15 more per tire.
Discount did not have the Michelins in stock-they would have to be brought from their warehouse and would take a couple days, while the Pirelli’s were at another store and they could have it later that day. SO I picked the Pirelli’s.
After 1000 miles (And using a scangauge), my average MPG for my 81 mile RT commute has dropped down to 37 mpg. First 2 trips, I had kept the tires at 32 (What they had filled them at) psi, just wondering what my MPG would be at that PSI. I then pumped them up to my usual driving pressure of 40psi. Much to my surprise, my MPG has not increased.
I find this simply amazing that not only did my MPG drop with these new tires, but the MPG did not increase when I added 8PSI to each time. There had been 2 comments in the discount review about lost MPG, but the other reviewers that commented on that comment said that they saw no decrease.