As motorists become familiar from this month with a CO2-based car tax system, Continental Tyres claims that that both the choice and maintenance of tyres can have an equally significant bearing on emissions as the choice of car. The message carries particular resonance as rising fuel prices have brought about a greater awareness of fuel economy among drivers.

Tyre pressures will impact on the CO2 output from your car. Continental ContiEcoContact3 is claimed to give enhanced fuel economy is now available from Advance Pitstop outlets nationwide.

Firstly, the design and development of the tyre can help reduce the effect on the environment. A tyre designed with low rolling resistance can raise a car's fuel efficiency by around 5 per cent. This translates into fuel savings of roughly 56 litres for an average car's annual mileage and a 135kg reduction in CO2 emissions. Continental claims that its range of tyres meets high standards in low rolling resistance. The ContiEcoContact3 is an example of this.

The choice of tyre materials is critical. With the objective of reducing the weight of the tyre, meaning less force is needed to move from the tyre. Continental claims that its passenger tyre range is one of the lightest on the market. Continental also continually tests new compounds and develops new tread patterns to make sure the latest technology is used to keep fuel consumption down.

The design of a tyre is only one aspect however as, if low rolling resistance tyres are not properly maintained, they are of little benefit. Incorrect maintenance of tyres by the driver can lead to significant decreases in fuel economy, as well as impacting on tyre life and thus the environment.

Statistics suggest over half of tyres on the road are under inflated. A 20 per cent under inflation reduces tyre life by 25 per cent and can cause the vehicle to use up to 3 per cent more fuel. Assuming a 10 per cent average under inflation of half the cars in Ireland, and a corresponding 1.5 per cent rise in fuel consumption, the extra emissions generated each year nationwide would equate to 24,000 return trips from Dublin to New York.

"It's not just in our choice of car that we can do our bit for the environment," comments Paddy Murphy, General Manager, Continental Tyres Ireland. "Simply by selecting the right tyres, and looking after these tyres, we can make a sizeable contribution to both the planet and the household budget."

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