Fuel-saving tires

New low-rolling-resistance models offer better performance

Our tests of a new generation of fuel-efficient tires found that they not only save gas but are also good all-around performers. The two models we’re featuring have low rolling resistance, a quality that can help a car get more miles per gallon.

Rolling resistance, or the force a tire needs to keep it moving down the road, accounts for about 4 percent of a vehicle’s fuel use in city driving and about 7 percent on the highway, according to the Department of Transportation. Replacing highrolling-resistance tires can result in more than $100 in annual fuel savings.

Automakers often specify fuel-saving tires as original equipment to help a vehicle’s fuel-economy numbers. But replacement tires aren’t limited to an automaker’s requirements, and attributes such as all-season grip and tread life are big selling points. In the past, consumers had to weigh a trade-off between low rolling resistance and other performance properties. In recent years, tire manufacturers have been achieving a better balance of rolling resistance and all-weather grip. And now they’re marketing tires specifically for their claimed fuel efficiency.

We tested two all-season models of this new generation, the Cooper GFE and Michelin Energy Saver A/S. Both come in multiple sizes and speed ratings.