LRR tires currently available?
 

I just found this new tire in the Bridgestone Ecopia series:
Product Details: Ecopia EP422

I also learned recently from a tire shop about a Kumho brand "Ecowing" series.

Anyone know a good place to find the rolling resistance coefficient ratings for these and other tires?

Although they don't list the coefficients directly, Tire Rack allows you to filter for only LRR tires after you have selected your tire size.

Thanks for this response instarx. I have been to the tire rack site, but the problem is that there are LRR tires and then there are other LRR tires, as an older listing of rolling resistance coefficients on this forum shows. I'm hoping to learn where to find such data for more recently marketed tires, such as the Bridgestone Ecopia ep422. That info should be available to the public somewhere, eh?

i think Consumer Reports is due (or overdue) to rate all the LRR tires so we can see an unbiased evaluation.

Yeah, it should be. However, it usually isn't.

The best thing you can do is google about the tire you want and hope someone has tested them against some other tires.

yeah, i wish I knew whether to buy the Bridgestone D381's, the Nokian eNtyre, the Cooper GFE, or the Kumho KR22's.

Summer tires 2011 finnish (TM magazine) LRR results for size: 205/55R16:
Michelin was the best and those % number are the difference in fuel consumption. So the worst tire consumes 6,8% more fuel than the best.
MIchelin energy saver 0%
Goodyear efficientgrip 0.1%
bf goodrich g-grip 0,9%
Nokian hakka green 0.9%
barum bravuris 2 1,5%
continental contipremiuncontact 2 1,7%
Vredestein sprottrac 3 2,1%
Pirelli cinturato p7 2,8%
Sunny sn3630 3,9%
Hankook ventus prime 2 4,0%
Bridgestone turanza er 300 ecopia 4,4%
Linglong green max 4,5%
Nokian Hakka V 4,7%
Dunlop sp sport fastresponse 6,2%
Sava intense hp 6,8%

If you like to take a look at the full test it can dowloaded here in finnish:
Vertailu - Kesarenkaat 2011.pdf

Overall winner of that test was continental contipremiuncontact 2.

thank you for the info and the link, but unfortunately most all those tires are not available here in the states under those specific model names, and the tires that we have available readily are not tested in that report.

the odder thing yet, is that the premiumcontact2 in the USA is not even rated as a LRR tire.

That test was not for LRR tires but summer 2011 tires overall. One test section is for LRR measurements. Best 4 tires are advertized at least here in europe for LRR tires.

ahh, gotcha. then it's my conclusion the reason why michelin energy savers finished so well in that comparison is because they weren't pitted against other LRR tires.

Even if they were, they'd be at the top of the FE rating.
The Energy Saver does have some deficiencies in other areas - especially the wet handling and the feel in the wet.
It hasn't really failed me in the wet, but it feels like it's on the edge, so I back off.

When you put these on, you must realize they're not a sports or high performance tyre. Perfect fit for hypermiling IMHO.

So, lets take a look at the manufacturers' websites.
I used either their Belgian or common websites.

Is sold as a LRR tyre.

Performs surprisingly wel, even though not claimed to be a LRR tyres.

The naming gives it away.

No LRR claims.

Continental don't even hint at FE for this tyre.

Vredestein claim LRR on their website.

Pirelli claims the tyre to be energy efficient.

Supposed to be a LRR tyre.

Says to be green, but clearly isn't.

Despite the "sports" name and intended usage, Dunlop claims LRR, but apparently doesn't deliver.

Thanks for these listings, and for the discussion they have created. I have a simple question: what does the percentage mean? A ranking?

It appears to be a percent difference between the best rated tire (ie 0% difference all the way to 6.8% higher fuel consumption over the best in test sample.

If Michelin Energy saver is a rating of zero, and the Hydro Edge Green X tire is supposed to have an even lower rolling resistance than that, we're into the negative numbers for this comparison lol.

From what I've gathered, the old data for wheels our size (if you're using stock rims), says that the Bridgestone B381 tire has the lowest rolling resistance of any tire (other than the stock 1st gen Insight Potenza). Those tires are several years old, however, so it wouldn't surprise me if a more efficient tire has come along.

I have done some moderate research, and I have not found any claims for a better tire than the B381. Anyone else have some thoughts?

JMac
http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig4777a.png

I would dare to say that those B381 arent anymore best of their class. That is almost 10 years old information... Other new very LRR tires are the ones on that test and also:
- Continental Ecocontact 3, premium contact is not "eco" tire but overall good summer tire. This should have even lower LRR values.

If you choose a LRR tire from well known manufacturer you have better chances to get LRR tire than with other models. They just promise it but dont deliver. However its sad that there are so many tires on the market that you cannot evaluate all of them for LRR. I am sure there are some unknown manufacturers which design very LRR tire models. Problem with those are that they are not "safe" to drive because you cannot predict they behaviour very well on wet surfaces etc. So you lose the grip all at once.

I will try to read the magazines and post more LRR results from other magazines.

Bridgestone claims its new Ecopia EP422 to be a rolling resistance tire. Since it is new, it wouldn't be part of an older study. I'd love to see test results. This is one of those areas where this forum identifies a market interest that the manufacturers are apparently not satisfying very well at all. Somebody from the companies should read this forum. I have to think that each one of us possibly represent an untold larger number of "early adopters" who would likely latch-onto a well-marketed LRR "eco/mpg" tire... and each of them represents possibly scores more consumers who would buy ... given the right marketing information and resources.

I have to agree with you. Personally I would like to see some comparison tests which include Nokian's new Entyre tire. It is supposed to be LLR and still handle poor weather reasonably well also.

I have a set of Nokian WRg2s on my Prius that are excellent. Wet, dry, snow. They are a favourite tire on Priuschat. They claim to be LRR and myself and many on that site agree with that claim. Nice thing about the Nokians is that they are made from non toxic purified oils unlike almost all other brands. Tire rubber is actually usually toxic.

The Entyre is getting good reviews over there too but I wish I could see the numbers.

The tire manufacturer claims remind me of the old adage "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bull****".

I've heard, for example, that the treadwear rating each manufacturer advertises is that manufacturer's recommendation based on their own personal research, and not from an independent lab, so a treadwear rating of say 200 by one company might match the same wear rating of a 400 claim made by a different tire manufacturer.

I was going to start a new thread but I'm hoping it's better to resurrect this one. I've finally wore out my Nokian WR's and am going to be choosing new tires soon. I've narrowed it down to three but I'm having trouble finding any direct comparisons. My primary goal is max fuel economy, but decent traction a soft quiet ride are important as well. I don't drive aggressively, other than occasionally taking a corner fast to keep from needing to brake. I am considering the WRG2's, but I've heard they are noisy and I have snow tires, so I don't really need the winter traction. My top two choices are the Nokian Entyre or the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422. Price is the same and both are LLR and claim good fuel mileage. I could only find one test between them which found the EP422 to give better mileage. Has anyone tried any of these three tires personally and seen noticeable mileage gains or have a recommendation?

Wrg2 noisy? I found them to be very quiet, grippy and excellent in the snow.

Only downsides are wet RR does seem to be worse than the entyre and they do wear out quick if you use them as all seasons.
I would suggest the nokian entyre. That's what I replaced our Wrg2s with. Much longer tread life and "ultra" LRR. They are also very quiet and just as grippy as the Wrg2s. Tire factory carries them. (no affiliation)

I would give them a RR edge on the wrg2s but I don't have data to back that up.

You might also want to checkout the Good Year Assurance CS Fuel Max tires. I just put a set on my wifes 06 Equinox. They're made for SUV's.

>

Thanks for the quick response. I'm getting warranty in the WR's because they have worn out so quick so my choices are limited to tires that I can get through Kal Tire, so GY is not an option. I was all set to buy Entyre's and then I ran across the EP422's and they look really good too. I know noise and ride are very subjective, but I do know that these WR's are almost unbearably noisy. My Rondo is an echo chamber at the best of times. orange4boy, have you noticed any improvement in mileage with the Entyre's over the WRG2?

Most states don't allow studded tires at all on public roads and studded tires are not good to drive on clear pavement nor are they good to drive at highway speeds! besides, stud-less snow tires work really well, the new rubber compounds are both LRR and get amazing grip!

Well, I took a chance and ordered a set of Bridgestone Ecopia EP422's. I've been researching like crazy over the last couple of weeks and keep coming back to them. Only time will tell if it is a wise choice. Reviews for them seem to be all over the place. People seem to love them or hate them, but the general consensus seems to be, they are quiet, soft and improve mileage at the cost of handling and wet traction. They are supposed to have much softer sidewalls than the Nokians which sounds really good to me. I usually run my tires above the pressure spec on the door sticker anyway, so maybe I'll be able to do it now without stiffening up the ride so much. I also looked at the Michelin Energy Saver A/S which seem to be undisputed best for MPG, but they are way more money and don't handle any better. I can't see it being worth it. The Michelin Defender is interesting as well and slightly cheaper with the rebates, but handling is not much better and indications seem to be that the MPG might not be quite as good. The Ecopias are supposed to be okay in the snow too which is good. I run snow tires in the winter but unexpected snow storms are not that uncommon in the spring and fall. Anyway, I won't get them for a couple of weeks and they probably won't get much use before I have to put the snow tires on, but I will give an update on them at some later date.