Mike Underhill: Tread carefully when it comes to tyres

Most of us think of tyres as those round black things that we resent having to replace. For many, the choice of tyre is left to the mechanic or the person in the tyre shop, with price the key consideration.

But if we really thought about how much impact our choice of tyre has on our safety, and our fuel bill, we might care more about the decision.

The difference between a good tyre and a low-end one can be as much as 18m braking distance in the wet.

Many people have embraced supermarket fuel discount vouchers. But a good tyre can save up to 15c a litre in fuel - paying for any price premium in a matter of months.

With most households spending more on fuel for their vehicles than they do on energy for their home, it makes sense to be fuel efficient.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) already helps consumers choose appliances and cars based on energy performance, through labels visible at the point of sale.

But until now, there has been no easy way for New Zealanders to choose a tyre that delivers on fuel efficiency and improved safety. That's why EECA launched an approval mark for tyres. To get the Energywise approval mark, tyres must meet minimum criteria for not only fuel efficiency but braking in the wet.

Fuel-efficient tyres have less rolling resistance which means less energy is needed to turn the wheels and the car consumes less fuel. The difference in vehicle fuel consumption between the best and the worst-performing tyre can be as much as 7 per cent.

EECA estimates that with four fuel-efficient tyres fitted, an average consumer can save as much as 15c a litre every time they drive - or around $500 over the life of the tyres.

EECA aims to double the number of fuel-efficient tyres sold in New Zealand over the next two years.

Almost all the fuel we use for our cars comes from fossil fuels, so being more fuel efficient can help us tackle climate change. With more than three million cars on the road, light vehicles use more than half of New Zealand's oil consumption and are responsible for about 12 per cent of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions.

When it's time to replace your tyres ask for some Energywise-approved options. Even if they cost a little more they will quickly pay for themselves in fuel savings.

Mike Underhill is chief executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.