It’s time to set the record straight: Properly Inflated Tires Save Gas. There’s been a large amount of petty political posturing over this embarrassingly simple fuel efficiency technique recently, with John McCain’s Presidential campaign attempting to mock Barack Obama for including it in his energy plan.

So now that we’ve heard the spin, what are the facts?  Properly inflated tires across this country when coupled with regular service and tune ups could save between 3% and 4% of all the gasoline consumed in the United States per year.   When compared to the recent Republican gimmick policy initiative demanding more drilling off of U.S. coastlines which will net, at most, 200,000 barrels of oil per day, which is at most 1% of US gasoline demand, five to ten years from now, it’s pretty clear which solution makes more sense.

Not only will keeping tires properly inflated do more to stem rising gas prices than detroying the environment off of American coastlines,  it can also be done today and at minimal expense - last time I checked there’s always a gas station or two in the area with a free air pump.   So don’t believe the hype of campaign politics.   Keeping tire pressure up is cheap, simple and it works.

You can find other easy to implement gas saving tips at hypermiling.com.

LINKS:

Greenopolis: The Tire Gauge Controversy-Saving Gas?

Politifact.com: Not overinflated (though it sounds like it)

TIME: The Tire Gauge Solution: No Joke