Not many Americans can claim to be automobile experts when it comes to maintenance, but most can tell when the tires on their automobiles are losing tread or getting low on air. Mostly, we can all tell when a tire on our car has gone flat. How does the general “health” of our tires affect our environment – and our pocketbook?

It’s been preached often by environmental experts that tires low on air are not only unsafe, but they demand more fuel use. The debate about tires and their effect on gasoline and oil consumption has entered the current green era, and it has resulted in nearly every hybrid vehicle being equipped with low rolling resistance (LRR) tires. LRR tires are designed to minimize the energy wasted as heat while the tire rolls down the road. And it’s not just for the hybrid vehicles. Manufacturers are also developing LRR tires for gas-powered cars and trucks.

The end game for all of this is better fuel efficiency. The Yokohama Tire Corp. reported studies that have shown that a vehicle averaging 15,000 miles a year could enjoy a savings of $100 a year on gasoline (at $3 a gallon) with the generally thinner LRR tires. Proponents of LRR tires use the example of riding a bike with low air in the tires. Because more rubber is on the road, it is harder to pedal the bike. The same theory would hold true with automobiles, as much energy is used to overcome rolling resistance – meaning gas mileage suffers and more carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere.

Properly inflated LRR tires, they reason, provide the least amount of resistance against the road; yet adhere to the same federal guidelines used to control traction, treadwear and temperature resistance as with standard tires.

Those who are conscious about protecting the environment and conserving energy look to LRR tires as a popular upgrade. Aside from the switch to LRR, it is always a good idea to have your standard automobile tires checked when they are cold (at least three hours after being driven) for proper inflation with a reliable tire gauge.

While this may sound like it goes without saying, you may be amazed to find that some of your tire valve stems don’t have caps that seal against leakage. Take a look at those on occasion to make sure they are still on your tires.