The cost difference between 40mpg and 50mpg

Formula to use is:

(Miles per year/MPG) * Price = Gas cost per year

• 60K for a 2010 would give you 30k Miles per year
• Current gas price in Windsor, per gasbuddy.com, shows $3.45.

Based off this your cost difference 40 MPG and 50 MPG per year would be:

$517.50


Work:

(30000 Miles per year/40 MPG) * $3.45 = $2587.50 Gas cost per year
(30000 Miles per year/50 MPG) * $3.45 = $2070.00 Gas cost per year

 

Here it is simplified...

50mpg If you drive 15,000 miles a year you spend $1,050 per year for gas at $3.50

40mpg If you drive 15,000 miles a year you spend $1,313 per year for gas at $3.50



The federal government has a calc for that ---> Fuel use comparison calculator

 

This is one of the most fundamental aspects to consider when determining if you should upgrade wheels. We all know that upgraded wheels drop fuel economy but if you drive a low number of miles each year then it's not such a big deal. For those driving 25,000 miles or more each year then it's not such a hot idea.

We all get caught up in the big numbers but until you break it down with math you'll never really know if the difference between 40mpg and 50mpg is worth sweating. This becomes very important as cars become more efficient and we dream about 60mpg tanks. Have you done the math on 50mpg vs. 60mpg using the U.S. average annual mileage of 12,000-15,000 miles? It's not that big of a deal.

 

Sporin,
I've been at about 47 mpg (46.9 now after a winter where the wind seemed to be blowing against me no matter which way I drove) over about 55K miles. As a highway driver mostly, yeah, I guess I'm disappointed I haven't gotten the advertised 48, but I like your attitude--is it really that big a deal?

 

ingenious!

 

$3.45 for gas? can you buy me a tanker full and ship it to me in California? I have not seen $3.45 in years.

 

Just in case you are really poor at math. Don't think 6 mpg difference is always a neglible $20 a month. It's neglible because you are getting 44 mpg. But if you are contemplating getting another car that gets 38 mpg. Does it cost still $20 less a month? You'll find it costs more than that.

 

I just did the math for the switch from my former 2010 Prius IV to my current 2013 Prius v5. I averaged 52 mpg in the 2010 and if my driving pattern holds, I can count on getting 45 mpg in the v. Difference at $3.25/gallon and 20,000 mile per year is $16.20 month. I hope to get my mpg's up as I put more miles on the v. I barely have 1,000 miles now.

 

The kicker will occur when you have to replace the tires on the Five. So far nothing available is as efficient as the OE tires. Fortunately the Ecopia EP422 and PureContact come in your size.

 

What about the Michelin Energy Saver A/S? It shows up as a newly available size on TireRack.

 

Well I'll be. You're right. It's new for that size and when I looked up the available options during my reply I forgot to hit LRR only which truncated the list so I can see all options. Good catch. Thanks!

 

And as always, the car's speedo, odo and mpg displays are inaccurate.
New tires will change that inaccuracy also.
A good GPS/Odometer correction factor and paper and pencil is the real way to get accurate data.

 

I'm just glad to see it's available. I had the Ecopia EP422's previously because the Energy Savers were out of stock last year. Although I thought it was a good tire, I would rather have had the Energy Savers. Next time around I'll be sure to get them instead.

 

I agree. The Energy Saver A/S is a much better tire unless you need more snow traction. I just wish it was available in the 215/45/17 or 205/50/17 sizes. A well. Soon there will be something better to replace it. If Bridgestone comes out with a North American version of its EP001s then the Energy Saver A/S will no longer reign supreme.

 

Another way to look at it is by percentages:

50 vs 60 - 16% improvement

40 vs 50 - 20% improvement

30 vs 40 - 25% improvement

20 vs 30 - 33% improvement

Any way you cut it, there are savings to be had by slowing down in any car. Yet how much depends on ones temperament. I love playing the mpg game with my Prius. The extra 10 to 15% savings is a bonus. The added bonus is how much more relaxed I am doing just 5mph over the posted.

So what if the trip takes another 10 to 15% longer? One just starts the drive earlier. More time for my streaming iTunes. More time to enjoy the passing of the life going on around me. More time to talk with family and friends in a drive.

 

It was never in my mind that I had to consider fuel economy costs of bigger rims. I get a slight ding in fuel economy but usually I get upgraded grip as a result. Like you said, it's not that big of a deal.

The big deal was when it came time for tire replacement and just about every one of my friends remounted their stock rims. My coworker had gorgeous 20" rims on his SUV. To replace 1 tire cost more than 4 tires on his OE wheels. He chose $400 for 4 tires. I see Prius Five and CT rims for sale on here and always get tempted. But I have to remind myself of the cost difference. I imagine it's a 2:1 cost ratio. For 17" over 15".

 

Aye. Good 17" tires generally run $50/ea. more than a similar 15" tire AND they generally wear out faster. So you get dinged a few different ways. It is my hope that the larger diameter tires of the future will eliminate the FE penalty so that we don't have to go through the inner turmoil of running ugly wheels just to save money.