No sense in ignoring hybrid vehicles any longer. They’re here to stay. They are not a trend.

Every year since 2000, the sale of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. has doubled. According to ABI Research, by 2006, sales of hybrid vehicles will account for 10% of the two million mid-size vehicles sold annually in the U.S. That number will swell to 6% of all cars sold in the U.S. by 2010, says ABI.

What this means is really up to you. Our strongest suggestion is that you consider hanging a “Dr. of MPG (miles-per-gallon) Specialist” sign outside your tire outlet. Build a reputation right now for being the hybrid expert in your market area. Remember that tires, proper inflation pressure and alignment make up 10% of a hybrid’s fuel economy gain.

So, what is a hybrid exactly? Here’s a definition accepted by most: A hybrid is a vehicle that has both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor that operate in unison and/or independently to propel the vehicle.

Fuel mileage is the number-one drawing card, followed closely by appealing technology. For example, the new Honda Accord Hybrid 5-passenger sedan offers 33% better gas mileage than the conventional Accord, produces 255 horsepower and is quicker in every respect than the conventional model.

In hard numbers, the 255 horsepower hybrid Accord reels in 29 city and 37 highway mpg numbers and pushes the needle from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Price tag: $30,140. That’s higher than the 240-horsepower conventional Accord. With its growing popularity, though, expect the hybrid price to drop and sales numbers to increase.

As you read this, Toyota just popped the cork on its new Highlander and 2005 Lexus RX 400h hybrids. The mid-sized hybrid Highlander comes with 225/65R17s all the way around with a psi recommendation of 32 front and 32 rear. This compares with an inflation pressure recommendation of 30 front and 30 rear for the traditional gasoline-powered Highlander. The Highlander also carries a full-size spare tire.

Also mid-sized and built for luxurious comfort, the pricey 268-horsepower Lexus 400h is quicker than the RX 330 and can go head-to-head with a V8-powered Mercedes ML 500, says Toyota.

This Lexus is unlike any hybrid most of us have seen to date. It boasts a 60% advantage in miles/gallon over the Lexus RX 330. In real numbers, that’s 31 city/27 highway, about what the EPA expects a compact sedan will guzzle – roughly 27.6 mpg. According to the EPA, the average mpg for SUVs in the Lexus class is 15.1 mpg.

Simply put, second generation hybrids are not very much like the first Honda (all aluminum) Insights we first saw in 1999-2000. Back then, toe-in was set at zero and inflation pressure at 38 psi front and 35 psi rear. The endgame was fuel economy – the more miles/gallon the better.

New Challenges, New Dangers

While the hybrid headlines get all the attention, there are real differences between some hybrids and conventional vehicles that give cause to pause. The 2005 Accord hybrid uses a tire repair and inflation kit mounted in the trunk instead of a temporary or full-size spare tire. It’s called an Instant Mobility Kit, but owners can shell out $107 for a kit that lets them toss the IMK and replace it with a temporary spare.

Yet another hybrid vehicle issue centers on “Ohm’s” law. Hybrid vehicles run on gasoline and electricity. As tire dealers and techs, we know that exceeding the maximum tire inflation pressure molded on a tire sidewall can result in explosive failure, leading to property damage, serious injury or death.

Sitting still with the keys out of the ignition, a Toyota Prius still has the potential to release 210 volts from its battery pack and 450 volts from its invertors and capacitors. As a general rule, 60 volts is considered a lethal dose.

Power remains in the high-voltage electrical system for five minutes after the HV battery pack is shut off, says Toyota. “Never touch, cut or open any orange high-voltage power cable or high-voltage component,” says the automaker. Stay away from orange.

While hybrid vehicle makers have built in so many safety redundancies that the possibility of being electrocuted is slim, still, the potential is there. So, make sure your people get proper training, and tell your hybrid customers you know how to work on their vehicles.

Hybrids and Tires

While fuel mileage remains at the heart of why people buy hybrids, we’re here to talk tires. For the most part, there is no difference between the tires being fitted to hybrids and those for gasoline-powered vehicles.

If you are fitting 185/65R15s to a Toyota Prius, use what you have in stock. But, remember to watch inflation pressure settings. Generally, the makers of hybrid vehicles recommend a few extra pounds of inflation pressure, so check the vehicle placard.

The new Toyota Highlander hybrid is a good example. Toyota calls for 32 front/32 rear for the 225/65R17s on its new Highlander hybrid, while the Highlander gasoline version calls for just 30 psi front and rear. The 2005 Toyota Prius needs 35 psi front and 33 psi rear in its 185/65R15 OE tires to achieve its 55 mpg EPA rating. But its non-hybrid Corolla cousin, similar in weight and purpose, specifies 30 front and rear for its 185/65R15 rubber.

Not all of them are different, though. For the new Honda Accord Hybrid, the inflation pressure recommendations are listed as 32 front/32 rear, same as the traditional gasoline version.

Of course, we Americans like change. Out with original equipment, in with automotive aftermarket equipment – including tires and wheels. Toyota Prius customers can and will order the optional 195/55R16 (Plus 1) or the 205/45R17 (Plus 2) sizes.

You’ll have to tell them that by going to a lower, wider tire, they are creating a virtual air dam that will have a predictable loss of fuel efficiency. Those who choose Plus 1 or Plus 2 options must be ready to give up somewhere between three and five miles per gallon.

In fact, you may be spending a fair amount of your time explaining why a customer’s factory-equipped hybrid isn’t living up to its fuel economy ratings. Heavier, wider tires and heavier wheels add weight and aerodynamic impediments to achieving maximum mpg.

Note also that owners of hybrids in winter driving states may experience 20% to 25% less fuel economy than in summer. Blame it on warming up cold cars before making the morning commute, more aggressive winter tires and driving through deep snow.

While we’re at it, many hybrid vehicle owners pop online to advise other hybrid owners to run inflation pressures no lower than 35 psi and work their way up. “If the maximum inflation pressure is 44 psi, run it up to 40 or 41 psi,” they say. Attaining top mpg is almost cult-like. The worry is that consumers may think: “If 41 psi gets me more mpg, maybe I should try 50 psi.”

This is a concern that will no doubt become a product safety bulletin that should be issued by all tire and vehicle makers. Always fill tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure. That will keep you out of court and your customers safe.

Know Your Hybrids

Here’s a short list of hybrids already on the road: Honda Insight, Honda Civic hybrid, Honda Accord hybrid, Toyota Prius hybrid, Toyota Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX 400h hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid. Expected to make an appearance later in 2005 is the Toyota Camry hybrid, the Dodge Ram hybrid, the Mercury Mariner hybrid and the Lexus GS 450h hybrid.

For 2006, look for a Hyundai Accent hybrid, Saturn Vue hybrid, Kia Rio hybrid and the Nissan Altima hybrid. In 2007, Chevrolet will introduce its Equinox SUV hybrid, the Malibu hybrid, the Tahoe (AHS II) hybrid and the Yukon hybrid (AHS II). Mazda’s Tribute hybrid is also expected in 2007, as is the Toyota Sienna hybrid minivan.

In 2008, Chevy will introduce its Silverado hybrid (AHS II), and GMC will show its Sierra hybrid (AHS II). Ford will roll out its Fusion (mid-size car) hybrid, along with the Mercury Milan hybrid, also a mid-size car. That’s the list as we have it in mid-2005. Expect it to grow rather than shrink.

So, make sure you and your staff know how to work on these cars. Replacing tires on and servicing hybrids should be a special feature of your total service program – something to promote – and a new revenue stream.