Counterintuitive and Michelin just seem to go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, Laverne and Shirley and most of the Three Stooges (not Curly Joe, though).
So it shouldn't be arresting that Michelin was touting a 10-inch tire at last year's Challenge Bibendum event in Rio de Janeiro. According to Automobile magazine, the 175/70R10 units are apparently better for the environment than, say, a set of more common 175/65R14 tires.
Why? Well, wheels and tires together, the 10-inchers are a total of 88 pounds lighter. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but Automobile notes rightfully that those 88 pounds mean everything to an all-electric or small-engined hybrid vehicle. Less weight means less stress on the powertrain, which converts into greater range and a more nimble vehicle.
So while the rest of the tire world insists that 18- and 20-inch tires will do the fuel-efficiency job, leave it to Michelin to look the other way for answers. Will we see these micro-tires in production? Who knows?
But given that
GM is tossing the mini-spare out of its new gas-sipping (well, supposedly fuel efficient) Chevy Cruze in favor of a lighter air pump – saving all of 26 pounds – maybe five smaller, lighter tires is a better idea for consumers.
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And speaking of wasting fuel, as we close out the 10th annual National Tire Safety Week, the RMA offers these facts from its annual survey of drivers and tire care:
• 60% of drivers wash their car at least once a month, but only 14% check their tire inflation pressure once a month
• 62% of drivers do not know where to find the correct inflation pressure for their vehicle…53% say it’s the tire sidewall while 14% do not know at all.
• 43% of drivers do not know that tires should be checked “cold” – before driving.
• 52% of drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald.
• Nearly 70% do not check the tire pressure in their spare tire.
• 75% cite checking tire pressure as a top fuel saving tip.
• 20% of male motorists and 9% of female motorists properly check tire pressure.