Tire makers to come up with products that help improve fuel efficiency

Tire makers have stepped up efforts to attract consumers with automobile tires that will help improve vehicle fuel efficiency. Makers, such as Japan’s Bridgestone Corp., Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. and France’s Michelin, lead the effort as motorists look for better fuel economy. If rolling resistance is reduced by 10 to 30%, fuel economy improves by 2 to 6%, tire makers said. Bridgestone started selling its Ecopia fuel-efficient tires in the United States and European markets in the first quarter of this year. Sumitomo Rubber plans to export Enasave, featuring a low-rolling resistance and reduced use of fossil fuel-derived materials, to the United States, Europe and Asia starting in 2010, while Michelin has boosted its efforts to sell similar products in Japan. (May 7, 2009)