A look at low-rolling resistance tires

Traditionally, the OEM tire would have to give up traction or braking to improve efficiency over the shelf one. New compounds do lessen this trade off.

But more importantly, what do you the tire pressure set at? Using a higher pressure can greatly decrease rolling resistance while having little impact on other areas of performance. Can't read German, but perhaps the Mercedes spec tire has a higher pressure spec, or it is a case of different labs using a different pressure for the tests.

 

I replaced my inefficient Michelins with the only eco low profile tyre I could find (215/45 17 inch):

Passenger Car Summer Tyres / Car Tyres / Tyres / Yokohama - Yokohama Europe - Tyre company

At low to medium speed I tend to have 10% lowe consumption, comparable to the hybrid Auris with standard wheel size and eco tyres.

 

My 33K mile OEM Toyo Proxes finally met the scrap heap the other day. Replaced with Bridgestone EP422 215/45/17 Ecopias at Costco. I had checked in with Discount Tire, which did have a most favorable price at only $5 over Tire Rack, and Costco was actually higher for the tires than both of those. But in the end, Costco won out with a super low installation price and lifetime support (which you have to buy at Discount Tires). Out the door for $610, including tax - member price (with rebate to come).

Not much to report yet. They said they had inflated them to 35psi. I checked them the next day and all were at 31psi. It was about 32F here, so I'm guessing that the transition from the warmer warehouse and shop to outdoors they lost a bit. No knowing that fact yet, when driving home, my first thought was "Wow, these are way more comfortable!" But the next day when I shot them all up to 38psi, that road feel difference faded to a just marginally more comfortable ride. And that I'm happy with, as the Toyo's were miserable at any inflation from 32 and up.

Haven't been on the highway and up to speed yet with the Ecopia's, so I can't report about noise. No rain or snow handling experience yet either. The one big difference I noticed thus far, compared with the Proxes, is that in very low speed parking lot tight turns, the front tires don't feel like they're going to fold up on themselves. More to come as I get to know this new set.

 

Thanks for the info, and yeah, please do report when you have some more miles. 215/45R17 is our size, I'm wondering about these.