Tyre Talk
  - Mark ‘Frosty’ Winterbottom

Mark  Winterbottom

In the wake of rising fuel prices, in this month’s Tyre Talk, Mark ‘Frosty’ Winterbottom gives us some tips on how to get the most out of our tank of fuel.

“The most basic thing you can do is improve your driving,” says Frosty. “Be gentle on the accelerator, avoid long periods of idling and reduce your overall speed. This approach can reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions significantly.”

Frosty suggests checking your air filter, as well as making sure your tyres are in tip-top shape; “Check your tyre pressure at least once a month, and ensure your wheels are aligned. Poor pressure and alignment increases premature tread wear.”

Top tips for reducing the environmental impact of your car and tyres:

• Improve your driving: Drivers can reduce fuel consumption and hence environmentally harmful emissions by adopting a car-friendly approach to driving, such as being gentle on the accelerator and brake, avoiding long periods of idling and reducing overall speed.

• Service your car: Cars should be serviced every six months or 10,000 kilometres, to minimise their environmental footprint. A combination of bad ignition timing and poor fuel/air mixture can increase fuel consumption.

• Check your tyre pressures: Correct tyre inflation pressure can improve mileage and is critical for good fuel economy, maximum tyre life and proper vehicle handling performance. The recommended pressure for your vehicle is usually located in the owner’s manual and' tyre pressure should be checked at least once a month.

• Ensure your wheels are properly aligned: Correct wheel alignment could reduce rolling resistance which represents a significant impact on fuel economy.

• Reduce weight and remove roof-racks: You should remove unnecessary items from your boot to reduce weight which will decrease rolling resistance. Also aerodynamic drag impacts fuel consumption so avoid travelling at fast speeds with empty roof boxes or racks, or with open windows.

• Check air filter: Check that your air filter isn’t clogged. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car’s mileage. And it won’t just save you money and help the environment; it will also help protect your engine by keeping harmful impurities out.

August 2008