Tires with least rolling resistance.

[MARTINSR]

I scanned around the site looking for this and didn't see it. Is there a list somewhere of the tires with the least rolling resistance?

Brian

[Angmaar]

There is a list of LRR tires at wikipedia here.

[MARTINSR]

Thanks, I'll start with that and maybe learn something. But the darn list of tires was from 2003! A hell of a lot has changed in seven years!

Brian

[PaleMelanesian]

Here you go: When Round and Black Becomes Lean and Green

These are comparing to the OEM Prius tire, which is already a LRR tire.

[Rob10_99]

Truckers use the ribbed tires, the ones without tread breaks besides the ring around the entire circumference.
I assume there's something like that for passenger cars? Some skinny tall drag type tires would do well imo. The kind for FWD cars rear sets I'm talking about.

[bgd73]

lists dusturb me.

I narrowed it down to t-rated or better (say bye to 13s and 14 inch wheels)
a weight rating at least half of the car for one tire (ie: 1987 subaru is 2750pounds..one tire equeals 1356 pounds in the weight rating)

directional tread is good, but more money...

...and knowledge is many more than a list....much more than a marketer can stab into our pathetic lost minds.. and well, don't want to sound "extreme" if ya know what I mean.
tests are great for the testers locale, roads, temperature, car design, and even day of steel content year...

I would humor the prius comparison, as my engine is within 10hp, the weight, etc. It does not work for everybody.

[MARTINSR]

I knew there would be a lot info out there, thanks guys.

Brian

[eWagen]

In Scandinavia they are selling winter tires that have even less RR. They are called something like Studdless friction tire, I think at least some versions are sold in Canada too. They are less noisy, more comfy and give better mileage than normal summer tire. On the other side, the rubber material is designed to be used mostly in temps under freezing point, so in SF area they'll practically melt down on heavy highway use on a sunny day. I have used them (Bridgestone Blizzak) all year around in my golf vr6, and they decrease fuel usage about 2mpg -> normal summertires and about 5mpg -> previous stud wintertires I had. Despite that Finnish summerday temps are usualluy around 70F, they work OK if not driven too hard. Not too sporty, though

P.S. These are bit different than winter tires (or all season tires) that are sold in mid-Europe. These are better on snow and ice and worse on tarmac.

Ari

[Tofuman]

How is the traction on LRR tires?

[Red Lion]

^Define traction. They're not any worse for everyday driving than other tires. If you're asking how they do for "at the limit" handling you find in racing, well, I'd dare say nowhere near the level of real performance tires.