With gas prices seeming to be on a never-ending upward trajectory, now is the time to figure out how to improve your gas mileage (if you haven't already switched over to EVs). The good news is that improving your gas mileage often comes down to small driving improvements and proper vehicle maintenance.
Our tire experts at Hooper’s Tire Outlet explain how to improve gas mileage with practical tips that can help you spend less at the pump and get more out of every tank.
Looking for an easy way to improve gas mileage? Hooper’s Tire Outlet offers affordable used tires, tire inspections, and maintenance services that can help your vehicle run more efficiently and save you money at the gas station.
1. Maintain Your Car
Little habits add up when it comes to getting more mileage out of your car, so you want to make sure that you’re maintaining it. The key is to do these tasks regularly because your car works like a system: when one part is underperforming, the other parts, including fuel efficiency, can suffer.
Regular vehicle maintenance tasks that can improve your gas mileage include:
Replacing engine oil and air filters: Clean oil reduces friction inside the engine, while a clean air filter helps maintain proper airflow for efficient fuel combustion.
Scheduling tune-ups and routine inspections: Tune-ups help detect inefficient engine performance, worn spark plugs, or fuel system issues that may reduce gas mileage.
Addressing warning lights before they become bigger issues: Dashboard warning lights can signal problems with your engine, emissions system, or sensors that may cause your vehicle to burn more fuel than necessary.
Balancing your tires when needed: Properly balanced tires reduce vibrations and uneven tread wear, which helps your vehicle roll more efficiently and can improve fuel economy.
Even if you don’t have time to do full maintenance, basic maintenance can support engine performance and help improve gas mileage over time.
2. Properly Inflate Your Tires
You may have heard that low tire pressure is only a minor issue, but the truth is, it can significantly reduce fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which means more of the tire’s surface drags against the road instead of rolling smoothly. This forces your engine to use more energy and burn more fuel just to maintain speed. It’s similar to riding a bicycle with soft tires. The vehicle can still move, but it takes noticeably more effort to keep it going efficiently.
Checking and adjusting the air in your tires is fairly simple and can easily increase your gas mileage. Just check your current PSI with a tire pressure gauge, compare it to the recommended PSI listed inside your driver’s door or car manual, and add air until the tire reaches the correct level. Then you’re good to go!
3. Stop Speeding
With gas prices being so high, it may be time to replace the need for speed with the need to save some money. The reality is that driving fast may save a few minutes, but it can cost you money at the gas pump. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fuel economy typically decreases at speeds above 50 to 60 miles per hour. This is because your engine has to work harder to overcome wind resistance and maintain higher speeds. The faster you drive, the more fuel your vehicle burns just to push through the air and keep momentum.
There are other reasons to stop speeding, too, including excessive tire wear, reduced traction in wet conditions, and a higher risk of hydroplaning. Slowing down can help you save money on gas while helping your tires last longer and keeping you safe.
4. Avoid Rush Hour and Aggressive Driving
Although not completely avoidable for some people, the stop-and-go traffic of rush hour is one of the biggest burners of gas. Constant braking and accelerating force your engine to repeatedly work harder, which can reduce fuel economy by up to 40% in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
If you find yourself stuck in rush hour traffic, you can help improve gas mileage by:
Accelerating gradually: Smooth acceleration helps your engine use fuel more efficiently instead of burning excess gas during rapid starts.
Leaving more space between vehicles: This gives you more time to coast naturally and reduces unnecessary braking and re-accelerating.
Avoiding sudden braking whenever possible: Frequent hard stops waste momentum and force your engine to work harder to regain speed.
An added bonus from better driving habits is that they can possibly help prevent accidents while improving gas mileage at the same time. It’s a win-win!
5. Use the Right Tires for Your Environment
The tires you choose depend on several factors, including climate, road conditions, and driving habits. If you choose the wrong tire for your environment, it could end up costing you in fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle.
Even the environment itself can put a dent in your vehicle’s gas mileage. Rough roads, potholes, and off-road conditions can all reduce fuel efficiency because your vehicle has to work harder to maintain traction and stability. Uneven surfaces create more rolling resistance and force your suspension and tires to absorb more impact, which requires additional energy from the engine.
With more than 1,000 tires in stock at Hooper’s Tire Outlet, we know exactly how different tires are designed for different environments and how they can help you save money on gas:
All-season tires: Designed for daily driving and moderate weather, offering balanced traction and fuel efficiency for year-round use
Winter tires: Built for snow and ice with softer rubber compounds that improve cold-weather traction, though they may slightly reduce gas mileage compared to all-season tires
All-weather tires: A hybrid option that provides stronger winter performance than all-season tires while still maintaining solid year-round fuel efficiency
Summer tires: Best for warm temperatures and dry roads with lower rolling resistance that can help improve handling and gas mileage
OEM tires: Manufacturer-recommended tires specifically selected to balance fuel economy, comfort, handling, and overall vehicle performance
6. Optimize Your Errands
Our last tip for saving money on gas is to get strategic about running your regular errands. Short trips and scattered stops can quietly waste fuel throughout the week. A cold engine is less efficient than a warm engine, which means your vehicle uses more gas during short drives. That’s because your engine needs extra fuel during startup while it warms to its ideal operating temperature. If you repeatedly drive short distances with long breaks in between, your vehicle spends more time in this less efficient stage.
Some simple ways to be logistically smart and improve your gas mileage include:
Combining errands into one trip
Planning routes to avoid heavy traffic
Reducing unnecessary backtracking across town
A little planning can go a long way when it comes to improving gas mileage.
Increase Your Gas Efficiency With Hooper’s Tires
Improving fuel efficiency can easily be done through simple, smart changes. Small adjustments like maintaining proper tire pressure, driving more carefully, and choosing the right tires can help you save money on gas over time.
Hooper’s Tire Outlet offers an impressive selection of affordable used and new tires designed to help improve gas mileage and overall vehicle performance. Explore our online inventory or visit our Rochester and Syracuse locations to find high-quality tires, tire services, and professional support that can help you save money, even when prices are going up at the pump.