Did you know? Maintaining your vehicle’s tires is not only crucial to ensuring safety on the road, but it is also an essential step to getting better fuel economy which helps make the vehicle more efficient by burning less fuel, saving money and helping the environment! Unfortunately, only 31 per cent of Canadian drivers measure their tire pressures monthly.

Keeping tires properly inflated pays off. With average Canadian gas prices around $1.50/L, a driver covering 20,000 km per year can save about $75 annually, while someone driving 40,000 km per year could save $150. These savings come simply from avoiding the extra fuel burned when tires are under-inflated and that is just the start of how having optimal tire pressure helps.

Transport Canada reports that a single tire underinflated by about 8 psi can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%. That’s a big penalty — and it means the savings from proper inflation are often higher than conservative estimates suggest.

The environmental benefit is also real: that’s a reduction of up to 220 kg of CO₂ emissions per year for higher-mileage drivers. By properly inflating your tires, you save money and also help the environment by burning less fuel

Using Statistics Canada’s latest posted annual fuel-sales data (net gasoline sales ≈ 43.6 billion litres in 2023) and an industry estimate that keeping tires properly inflated improves average fuel economy by at least 0.6% and up to 4%.  Across all drivers, properly inflated tires would have avoided roughly 262 million litres of gasoline and about 602,000 tonnes of CO₂ in a single year.

Beyond fuel savings, proper tire care pays off in longevity and safety. Keeping tires inflated to spec and rotating them regularly helps ensure even wear, extending tire life and reducing replacement costs. Regular checks also catch uneven wear early, preventing handling issues and saving you money down the road.

To maximize your tire life, we at Active Green + Ross Tire Centres recommend checking tire condition and pressure regularly, and there is no better time to start than right now.

“We encourage all motorists to do their ‘PART’ and check vehicle tire Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, and Tread on a regular basis,” says Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

“It takes only five minutes to check tire inflation, including the spare. Since tires affect a vehicle’s ride, handling and traction, checking tire pressure frequently and having tires rotated and balanced are an important part of vehicle safety,” explains White.

Did you know tires can lose pressure when the air temperature gets colder? We recommend you check the pressure with weather changes especially when you are heading out on a longer trip.  The pressure can drop about 7 kPa or 1 psi for every 5°C drop in temperature as reported by Transport Canada .

Here’s how you can do your “PART”:

Pressure – Correct tire pressure is good to your wallet and the environment as properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by three percent or ten cents per gallon. Underinflated tires are under stress and wear uneven, causing them to be replaced sooner. You do not want to over-inflate your tires either, so be sure to follow the tire manufacturer and vehicle recommend optimal pressure for your tires.

Alignment – If your car is shaking or pulling to one side it could be a sign of an alignment issue. Because uneven or accelerated tire wear may indicate an alignment problem, it’s a good idea to have your car’s alignment checked at least once a year.

Rotation – Unless your car manual has a specific recommendation, the Car Care Council recommends having tires rotated every 10,000 km  to promote uniform tire wear. Unbalanced wheels can cause rapid wear of shock absorbers and struts, and wheel balance can change as a result of normal tire wear. Rotating the tires to keep their sizes equal is critical on full-size four-wheel drive vehicles as a difference of only 6 mm between the outside circumference of the front and rear tires can cause expensive damage. Replacing all four tires at the same time, rather than just the front or rear tires, is highly recommended for these vehicles.

Tread – Use the penny test and visually inspect tires for sign of uneven wear. place a penny in the tire’s groove with the Queen’s crown facing down. If you can see the top of the Queen’s crown, the tire needs replacing. If the tread depth falls below the minimum legal requirement or the sidewalls become severely cracked or punctured, tire replacement will be necessary.

Each year, the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC), promotes “Be Tire Smart” week, in springtime in Canada. But, you don’t have to wait for this reminder to do your part and save money at the same time.

For more information on service interval schedules, questions to ask a technician and tips to drive smart and save money, chat with your local Active Green + Ross tire centre representative on your next visit.