Improved tyres can save up to 3g/km CO2 says Michelin
Sat 02 February 2008
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Michelin, the French tyre company, says that 'type approval' regulations mean that car makers are forced to select tyres with sub-optimal rolling resistance, causing cars to be sold with lower fuel economy and higher CO2 emissions than would be the case were they sold with 'eco-tyres' fitted.
Michelin says that a tyre's rolling resistance determines the amount of drag imparted on a car. Tyres with the best rolling resistance can save up to 3 grams of CO2 per kilometre when measured on the Combined European driving cycle.
The difference between the best and worst tyres can be worth as much as 3g/km, according to Michelin.
The Daily Telegraph reports, however, that EU rules mean that car makers have to produce fuel consumption figures from the worst tyre selected, with the second worst chosen when three tyres are selected. As a result, there is little incentive for car makers to fit better performing 'eco-tyres' to their showroom models.
The issue of CO2 reductions based on improved tyre performance is complicated, however, by the EC proposal for 10g/km of the 2012 target of 130g/km to be achieved by 'other' measures, known as the 'integrated approach' (including, for example, improved fuels and tyres). The EU seeks to avoid the possibility of low-rolling resistance tyres being 'double-counted' as contributing to both the 130g/km vehicle reduction and the additional 10g/km integrated approach targets.
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