The global market for green tires was worth $44.8 billion in 2012 (28 per cent of the total tire market) and is forecast to increase to $70.6 billion (35 per cent of the total) by 2017, representing a CAGR of 9.5 per cent. Green tires are defined as tires optimised for low rolling resistance and/or used as materials, particularly as elastomers, from renewable, sustainable resources.
The good news is that just about everyone in the automotive industry is working to reduce carbondioxide emissions caused by vehicles. The better news is that you can benefit from improved fuel economy if you buy a new vehicle. The best news yet is that you don’t have to buy a new car to get better fuel efficiency. The right set of tires can do that for you.
If you’re in the market for green tires, you’re doing something positive for the planet and your wallet. Who makes green tires? Several tire makers have come up with eco-friendly technologies to make their products safer for our planet. From green tire lines to environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes, many tire manufacturers are doing their part to ease the impact of tires and vehicles on the planet.
Michelin’s Green X tires feature low rolling resistance, improved fuel efficiency and decreased pollution. Bridgestone Ecopia tires reduce rolling resistance and increase fuel efficiency. Yokohama uses innovations in manufacturing practices, product design and product performance to work toward making all its tires green. One of them is the use of orange oil in place of some petroleum-based products in the tires.
Hankook boasts the Kontrol technology which helps produce durable tires that last longer and won’t need to be discarded as quickly as in the case of ordinary tires. Goodyear’s Assurance Fuel Max tires are designed to save drivers thousands of gallons of fuel during normal driving life. The Scorpion Verde from Pirelli is a high mileage, lower environmental impact tire designed to decrease gasoline use and carbondioxide emissions.
What else can you do?
Even if you choose tires recommended by RightTurn.com that aren’t labelled as green or eco-friendly, you can still do your part to make sure you use as little fuel as possible. Here are five more tire- and driving-related practices you can follow to make sure you’re getting the most out of the fuel you use.
* Check air pressure: Improper air pressure in your tires leads to higher rolling resistance. This means your engine has to work harder to move your vehicle forward. That translates to more fuel burned in a shorter distance. Make sure your tires are filled to the air pressure recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
* Take the highway: Cars are more fuel efficient on the highway. When you can, prefer the highway to the city street.
* Avoid traffic jams: Stop-and-go traffic drives fuel efficiency down. If you know an alternate route to a congested area, take it.
* Don’t idle your car: If you run your car while you are not using it, you’re unnecessarily burning fuel. Make sure to turn off your car when you’re not on the road.
* Carpool: If you live near a co-worker or a friend who is going to the same destination as you, make use of carpool. This cuts down on the number of vehicles on the road and the amount of fuel used.