United Tire and Service News

 

Tires which are low on air can seriously hurt gas mileage. In fact, this is one of the most common problems that negatively affects fuel economy. Thankfully, this issue is very easy to diagnose and fix. You can check your tire's air pressure at almost any gas station. The station's air pump likely has a built-in pressure gauge. You can also simply purchase a tire air pressure gauge yourself. They can be found in any auto parts store, and they only cost a few dollars.

 

You can check your tire pressure by simply taking the cap off your tire's valve and putting the gauge on the valve. Determine whether the air pressure is below the manufacturer's recommendation. If it is, take your vehicle to a gas station and use its air pump.

 

One of the most overlooked issues leading to poor gas mileage is having unnecessary items on your vehicle's roof rack. Of course, not all vehicles have roof racks. However, if your car does have a roof rack, you should take items off it as soon as you're done using them.

There are two reasons that having unnecessary items on your vehicle's roof rack can lead to poor fuel mileage. First, these items make your vehicle less aerodynamic. Second, the weight of these items forces your vehicle's engine to work harder.

 

Perhaps the most important change that you can make to improve your vehicle's fuel economy is driving more smoothly. Accelerating quickly is one of the worst things that you can do for your vehicle's gas mileage. Braking hard is also bad for fuel mileage. Additionally, braking hard causes excessive wear to your vehicle. If you accelerate smoothly and brake gradually, you'll notice markedly better fuel economy.

 

This tip may not be applicable if you drive an older car or a modern economy vehicle. However, many vehicles on the market today, even affordable models, have multiple driving modes. If you want to save on gas, you can commit to driving in the most fuel-efficient mode. Keep in mind that the stated fuel mileage numbers for your vehicle were likely obtained when it was running in its most fuel efficient mode. Most vehicles have a button on the dashboard that you can press to easily switch to the fuel-efficient mode. If this is not the case, you can learn how to switch driving modes by consulting the owner's manual.

 

You can save on gas yourself, but you should take your vehicle to a professional service center if you're serious about saving gas money. Our team can give your vehicle a tune-up that will help it run more efficiently. Call your local United Tire location or schedule your next appointment online.