Tyred of trying to save energy?
August 1st 2006

Whether it's power cuts in central London, soaring energy prices or the climate change levy, even if you are a global warming sceptic, there is no getting away from the fact that it is beneficial to cut energy consumption.

If you run any kind of vehicle the most obvious area to look at is the fuel efficiency of the engine – but did you know that something as simple as selecting the appropriate fuel saving tyres can have a substantial effect on fuel consumption? According to Michelin, using fuel saving tyres, combined with better tyre maintenance (particularly regular pressure checks) can save fuel, reduce wear and improve safety. Add to this the plus points in terms of reduced disposal issues and this really does seem like an opportunity you cannot afford to miss out on.

According to Peter Snelling of Michelin, "If all the 110 million cars in Europe were running on green tyres we could save three billion litres of fuel each year and reduce the CO2 emissions by 7.5 million tonnes at the same time.

If the road-haulage industry fitted Michelin Energy 2 truck tyres they would save 6% of the fuel consumed in road haulage in Europe and that is easily enough to pay for the tyres."

Although this message is aimed primarily at car users and hauliers, in many instances the materials handling industry follows closely in the wake of the automotive sector, so if you operate any type of tyred machinery it's something you should bear in mind.

Charlotte Stonestreet Editor