Boost your MPG

Boost your MPG

Here are some easy tips to help you save at the pump.

Here are some easy tips to help you save at the pump.

Investment Masthead2

You could be wasting up to a quarter tank of gasYou could be wasting up to a quarter tank of gas

Underinflated tires can waste 10%

Missed oil changes can waste 2%

Maintenance like oxygen sensor replacement can waste 4%

Improper alignment can waste 10%

Tire Pressure Winter

Top off those tire pressures

A tire that’s underinflated by 10 psi knocks over 3% off your fuel economy. Multiply that by 4 and we’re talking about a big hit to your wallet every time you fill up. Tires can lose up to 2 psi per month, so keeping an eye on your pressures is a simple way to get more miles out of every gallon. And remember, air is always FREE at Belle Tire.

Oil dip stick

Upgrade your oil

If you’re not using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil, you’re paying more at the pump than you should. Just putting 10W-30 in an engine made for 5W-30 can knock 2% off of your MPG. There are also special “Energy Conserving” oils that can reduce friction even more.

Common sense for sensors

Checking the condition of your oxygen sensor can help ensure you’re not shelling out more for fuel than you should. These sensors track combustion efficiency, but they also degrade over time, resulting in up to 15% fewer MPG. Don’t wait for it to fail. Belle Tire can check it for you today!

oxygen-sensors-1
Alignment summer 1

Keep your eye on alignment

Set your wheels straight and get more miles per gallon. Rather than roll freely, misaligned tires drag, forcing the engine to work harder and burn more fuel. Boost your gas mileage by as much as 10% when you let get everything pointed in the right direction. Not sure if your vehicle is out of alignment? No problem, just swing by your local Belle Tire for a FREE Alignment check.

Find your balance

Tires that are out of balance can shake up more than your steering wheel, your wallet can also take a hit. Uneven tire wear caused by unbalanced tires results in poorer fuel economy. Let's get them in balance, so you can start squeezing more miles out of every fill up.

Tire balance Fuel EFF
Winter-shocks

Good suspension $aves

A loose suspension system forces your engine to work harder to maintain your speed. And as we’ve seen, a harder-working engine burns more fuel faster. Save at the pump by letting a Belle Tire specialist take a look and make sure everything is running as smoothly as possible.

Bad brakes are a drag

Once your brake calipers start to bind to the rotor, they make your engine work overtime to keep up with your accelerator. This means more fuel is burned faster than it would otherwise. We can inspect the calipers to make sure dragging brakes aren’t dragging down your MPG.

Caliper rub

A spark plug solution

Misfiring spark plugs could be doing a lot more damage than you think. By some estimates, they could reduce fuel economy by a whopping 30%. With today’s fuel prices, that’s a small fortune. If you notice a sudden drop in your usual MPG, it might be time to swing by and let one of our certified technichicans to take a look.

Spark plug

Citations:

4 out of 5 vehicles will not see the full life of their tires: Weissman, Shmuel L.; Sackman, Jerome L.; Gillen, David; Monismith, Carl. "Extending the Lifespan of Tires: Final Report” Symplectic Engineering Corporation; Institute for Transportation Studies – University of California at Berkeley (2003). researchgate.net. Uneven Wear reduced 25% of the tires’ life – UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (2006). Lutsey, Nicholas P.;Regnier, Justin;Burke, Andy;Melaina, Marc W;Bremson, Joel;Keteltas, Michael. "Assessment of Tire Technologies and Practices for Potential Waste and Energy Use Reductions.” UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (2006).escholarship.org/uc/item/06r0q71c#main. Unaligned vehicles lose 20% of the tires’ life. Fuller, G. “Pollutionwatch: how wheel misalignment can affect air quality.” The Guardian, 23 April 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/23/pollutionwatch-wheel-misalignment-impact-air-quality. Under inflated tires lose 10% of the tires’ life. Tire Rack – 6PSI below can lead to tire failure. “Right tire pressure.” TireRack. (n.d.)www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-is-the-right-tire-air-pressure. Retrieved December 11, 2023. NHTSA – citing goodyear data – indicating 1.78% less treadlife per PSI below. Tire Pressure Monitoring Final Rule(Part III).” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (n.d.). https://one.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/tirepresfinal/safetypr.html. 6 PSI loss x 1.78% = 10.68% life loss. 11% of tires will not see the full life of their tires due to road hazards (e.g., flat tire). Weissman, Shmuel L.; Sackman, Jerome L.; Gillen, David; Monismith, Carl. "Extending the Lifespan of Tires: Final Report” Symplectic Engineering Corporation; Institute for Transportation Studies – University of California at Berkeley (2003). researchgate.net. 1 in 5 vehicles – Article uses Drivers - will have a flat tire in the next 12-months – Creech, Will. “Flat Tire Statistics (Safety).” TireGrades. 30 August 2023. https://tiregrades.com/tire-maintenance/pressure/flat-tire-statistics/

4 out of 5 vehicles will not see the full life of their tires – Weissman et al 2003. What causes a vehicle not to see the full life of their tires: Uneven Wear reduced 25% of the tires life - (Lutsey et al 2006). enTireLife Package solution: Lifetime spin balancing and Lifetime tire rotations. Unaligned vehicles lose 20% of the tires life – (Fuller Gary, The Guardian, 2021). enTireLife Package solution: Free lifetime alignment checks and ability to do an alignment on site if required. Under inflated tires lose 10% of the tires life – NHTSA 2022. enTireLife Package solution: Free Air 24 hours a day. 365 days a year (and 4X freer on a Leap Year!). 11% of tires will not see the full life of their tires due to road hazards (e.g. flat tire) Weissmann et al, 2003. 1 in 5 vehicles – Article uses Drivers - will have a flat tire in the next 12-months – Creech, 2023 OR (AAA, 2017). The cost of not having the enTireLife™ Package is based on Michelin Defender 225 65R17 at Belle Tire price as of December 20, 2023.