Obviously, the less you drive the better, but when you have to get the car out, driving smarter can make a big difference. Follow these tips to reduce your tyreprint.
Don't hoon around
Rapid acceleration from a standing start is a huge consumer of fuel, as is jockeying aggressively in traffic. Motoring expert and journalist John Cadogan cites a test he did, driving the same route six times in peak hour traffic. Three times he drove aggressively, the other three times he drove "like Miss Daisy was in the back". Although the times were almost identical, the fuel consumption on the aggressive drives was around 25 to 30 per cent more. "If you taught people to drive more fuel-efficiently you could shave five to 10 per cent off your fuel bill," says Cadogan.
Roll high
Properly inflated tyres boost fuel efficiency by up to five per cent, increase safety and extend tyre life. Most owner's manuals recommend checking them every second time you fill up (yep, that often). All modern cars should have a tyre placard inside the doorframe of the driver's door telling you what the air pressure should be, says Cadogan. Need new tyres? Michelin Energy Saver tyres cut fuel consumption by about five per cent.
Curb your need for speed
It's simple: high speed driving is not only dangerous, it also burns more fuel. Doing 110kph on the motorway, for example, uses up to 25 per cent more fuel than driving at 90kph.
Find a good mechanic
Poorly tuned engines waste up to 40 per cent more fuel than those kept humming. Make sure your mechanic is worth their salt - check out reviews of the garage's service at nocowboys.co.nz.
Consider your commute
Hybrids are best in stop-and-go city traffic because the fuel-powered engines shut off when they idle. "When you're driving on the open road, however, you don't do much braking, so the advantage of the hybrid is largely negated," says Cadogan. "On [the highway], some super-efficient non-hybrids are actually more cost effective."
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