How much will gas mileage improve with proper tire inflation?
On One Hand: Maintain Recommended LevelsYour gas mileage can improve by as much as 3.3 percent to 4 percent if you keep your tires properly inflated, according to FuelEconomy.gov and Car Talk, respectively. Fuel efficiency is reduced by 0.3 percent to 0.4 percent for every one-pound drop in pressure in tires.On the Other: Tires VaryDuring repeated testing of underinflated and properly inflated tires, Edmunds.com noticed that savings varied depending on the tire and car, rather than remaining consistent for all tires. Edmunds recommends that you test different pressure levels yourself “to see what inflation setting gives you the best fuel economy.”Bottom LineThe consensus seems to be that maintaining proper tire inflation, based on what the manufacturer recommends, will help improve your gas mileage between 3.3 percent and 4 percent.
