Re: 2009, comeback for low rolling resistance tires ?

There certainly has been a resurgence in LRR tires in the last two months. I needed a set of new tires for my Saturn conversion and bugged Bridgestone continuously to bring their new Ecopia EP100 tire here, but the answer was only "it's not intended for the US market." Two months after I bought new Michelins they begin selling them. Here's a few of what they are offering specifically for LRR:

Bridgestone Ecopia EP100:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Ecopia+EP100

Ecopia EP20 just showed up recently as an OEM Prius replacement tire:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Ecopia+EP20

Ecopia EP-02 is the Rav4 EV tire that has been around all along:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Ecopia+EP-02

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max, they've actually been running TV commercials for this tire:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+Fuel+Max

Michelin Energy Saver. All their "Energy" line of tires are supposed to be LRR and I have a set of Energy MXV4S8's on my Saturn. I'm happy with it, but they are heavy tires:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Energy+Saver+A%2FS

They also make a version of the Hydroedge in LRR:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=HydroEdge+with+Green+X

If you'd asked about this last year you would have only had a few sparse choices, but now it's definitely a competition.


Regards,
Rick
92 Saturn SC Conversion
AZ Alt Fuel Plates "ZEROGAS"



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I was reading a magazine that had a blurb abut the 2009 F-150 truck
which has a "SFE" version fords "super fuel economy" version.
One thing that caught my eye was the use of low rolling resistance tires
and in larger sizes.

"18-inch chrome clad aluminum wheels
<http://www.autospies.com/news/2009-Ford-F150-SFE-34918/#>with low
rolling resistance P265/60R18 all-season tires."
and apparently there is a 20" option too for those bling addicts that
want a heavier rim to totally offset the low rolling resistance.

Not very low profile but a bit of googleing and we see the GM has it's
"XFE" "eXtra fuel economy"  line to match. (sheesh more TLA's)
They have goodyear and conti's in 15" size for the cobalt for example.

The phrases that worry me are "worked with the tire manufacturer to
create a tire especially for the cobalt".; which could mean we can't buy
them.

But here is hoping that low rolling resistance tires will gain enough
momentum to tip the scales and make a comeback.
I want to rolling resistance standards posted on the tire along with the
treadwear and traction ratings :-)

Funny are how many blog entries there are saying "low rolling resistance
= unstable or unsafe in any inclement weather " and none about fair
weather braking differences.

Don't worry, I know lower rolling resistance doesn't automatically mean
less traction.




     

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