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"Just one in 50 respondents was motivated by improving fuel economy. There seems to be some confusion as to the tires’ contribution to overall fuel efficiency. While low-rolling-resistance tires can make a measurable difference, it falls well short of the 8 mpg average that survey respondents expect. In fact, tire rolling resistance accounts for about 4 percent of a car's fuel use in city driving and perhaps 7 percent on the highway, according to government estimates. In our tests, we have found that low-rolling-resistance tires can save one to two mpg."

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/11/survey-car-tire-shoppers-satisfied-with-retailers-but-their-research-falls-flat.html

The actual mpg savings obviously varies by vehicle. It is quite high in the first gen Insight.

Inflation pressure is the other variable, and we all know the average motorist is driving around on underinflated tires.

Inflation pressure is the other variable, and we all know the average motorist is driving around on underinflated tires.

Do you mean underinflated comparing to the car manufacturer's recommendation, or just that those recommendations are pretty low to begin with, well below max sidewall? It would be refreshing if manufacturers would address this subject, ie: give more than one inflation recommendation. Say: a value for cushy ride, and a higher one for better rolling resistance.

Mendel, about a year ago I was watching some show on Discovery Channel, I think it was, about what would happen if we ran out of oil today. But one of the sponsors was a car manufacturer, Subaru, I think it was, but at the start of one of the commercial breaks they mentioned a few ways of improving fuel economy and sidewall max was one of the things mentioned.

Sorry for the run on sentence, just woke up recently.

Fuel economy is now very important to me, and this is the reasoning behind me switching to an All-Season tire for my pick-up. There are several tires labeled LRR, but there is not much info on the internet explaining which light truck tires (245/70/17 and 265/70/17) are better. Consumer reports did an article in 2009 that addressed this some what (Though the GoodYear SRA had the lowest RR, I was not about to sacrifice stopping distance, and wet/ice traction) but I would like to read more personal experience stories. When I sell the truck and get a car, there will be much more knowledge for me to tap into.

Consider that many take the car in for service and that's the only attention the tire pressure gets. Fill to spec (which I think is low anyway) when it's been driven and the tires are warm. The next morning, they're already underinflated. Over the next few months, they gradually lose even more air - dangerously underinflated.

Walk through a parking lot and look at the tires. Most of them show severe wear on the edges of the tread.

Good LRR tires gave us an extra 1+ mpg in the Odyssey, or 5%.

Most people probably aren't thinking about how tires affect their MPG anyway...it probably doesn't even enter their minds.