Most of us are still stinging from the hard hits we've taken at the pumps recently. In the last few years, vehicles have been increasingly more fuel-efficient, thanks to more stringent regulations and consumer demands. And yet, most people don't realize what an important role tires play in their vehicle's efficiency.
How much fuel a vehicle consumes is directly related to its effort to overcome inertia, or resistance to moving. Low rolling-resistance tires are designed to reduce weight, through thinner sidewalls and generally shallower tread depth. As mentioned earlier, Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 offers 36 percent less moving resistance than the comparable conventional tire, while the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia, designed for CUVs and light trucks, is 42 percent less resistant to rolling than the regular Dueler tire. Depending on variables such as road and weather conditions, low rolling-resistance tires can improve your fuel economy by as much as 4 percent. That may not sound like much, but could save you hundreds at the pumps each year – almost enough to pay for the tires.
In the past, low rolling-resistance tires have been somewhat of a compromise; the dollars saved in fuel have come at a cost of decreased performance. Shallower treads, more flexible sidewalls and different composites generally resulted in poor performance and less grip. They wore out faster too, which pretty much cancelled out any fuel savings.
The new Ecopia tires are formed from a compound created by Bridgestone's patented NanoPro-Tech (Nanostructure Oriented Properties Control Technology). In a nutshell, this is a process that binds the ingredients (silica, carbon and polymers) in a more evenly distributed blend for more consistent grip. The mixture is moulded into an all-season tread design incorporating notched shoulders for better cornering and independent centre blocks for improved dry grip.
New "fuel saver sidewalls" help return energy to the tire, and generate less heat. Bridgestone claims they do this by quickly regaining their original shape, a process called hysteresis.
Circumferential grooves channel water away for better grip on wet roads and help prevent hydroplaning, while the consistent use of silica helps improve traction by increasing the tire's flexibility.
During wet braking exercises, the Ecopia tires consistently outperformed the conventional tire by as much as 20 feet. Better carbon distribution helps contribute to the tire's longevity, since carbon helps reduce friction.
As its name suggests, the Ecopia brand is designed for improved environmental responsibility, not only through its reduction of fuel and subsequently lower emissions, but through the use of recycled materials and low-aromatic oils. Longer tire life and reduced overall weight also help to conserve resources.
Both the Ecopia EP422 (available in 29 sizes from 15-18") and Dueler H/L 422 (19 sizes from 16-20") are covered by a 105,000-km limited warranty.
How much fuel a vehicle consumes is directly related to its effort to overcome inertia, or resistance to moving. Low rolling-resistance tires are designed to reduce weight, through thinner sidewalls and generally shallower tread depth. As mentioned earlier, Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 offers 36 percent less moving resistance than the comparable conventional tire, while the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia, designed for CUVs and light trucks, is 42 percent less resistant to rolling than the regular Dueler tire. Depending on variables such as road and weather conditions, low rolling-resistance tires can improve your fuel economy by as much as 4 percent. That may not sound like much, but could save you hundreds at the pumps each year – almost enough to pay for the tires.
In the past, low rolling-resistance tires have been somewhat of a compromise; the dollars saved in fuel have come at a cost of decreased performance. Shallower treads, more flexible sidewalls and different composites generally resulted in poor performance and less grip. They wore out faster too, which pretty much cancelled out any fuel savings.
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| Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com |
The new Ecopia tires are formed from a compound created by Bridgestone's patented NanoPro-Tech (Nanostructure Oriented Properties Control Technology). In a nutshell, this is a process that binds the ingredients (silica, carbon and polymers) in a more evenly distributed blend for more consistent grip. The mixture is moulded into an all-season tread design incorporating notched shoulders for better cornering and independent centre blocks for improved dry grip.
New "fuel saver sidewalls" help return energy to the tire, and generate less heat. Bridgestone claims they do this by quickly regaining their original shape, a process called hysteresis.
Circumferential grooves channel water away for better grip on wet roads and help prevent hydroplaning, while the consistent use of silica helps improve traction by increasing the tire's flexibility.
During wet braking exercises, the Ecopia tires consistently outperformed the conventional tire by as much as 20 feet. Better carbon distribution helps contribute to the tire's longevity, since carbon helps reduce friction.
As its name suggests, the Ecopia brand is designed for improved environmental responsibility, not only through its reduction of fuel and subsequently lower emissions, but through the use of recycled materials and low-aromatic oils. Longer tire life and reduced overall weight also help to conserve resources.
Both the Ecopia EP422 (available in 29 sizes from 15-18") and Dueler H/L 422 (19 sizes from 16-20") are covered by a 105,000-km limited warranty.