Fuel efficient tyres: how much do they save in fuel and EV range?

Tyres account for a bigger share of your fuel consumption than most people think. The difference between an efficient and an inefficient tyre runs up to 0.6 litres per 100 km according to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation. On an electric car it is about range. This article explains how rolling resistance works, what the EU tyre label tells you, what the ANWB measures in its tests and why tyre pressure matters at least as much as the tyre itself.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 7 November 2026

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The short answer

According to Continental, tyres are responsible for 20 to 30% of a car’s fuel consumption. The difference between tyres of the same size runs up to 0.3 to 0.4 litres per 100 km (5 to 7% consumption) in the ANWB tests of 2026, and up to 0.6 litres per 100 km in the winter tyre test, about € 600 over 42,500 km. On an electric car the right tyre makes up to 10% difference in range according to Continental. Low tyre pressure costs extra: 0.3 bar (about 4 psi) too little is about 1.5% more fuel according to Continental.

Tyre service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: new summer, winter and all-season tyres for all makes and sizes, including electric cars, vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our tyre service

What is rolling resistance and why does a tyre cost fuel?

Rolling resistance is the energy a tyre loses because it is pressed flat and springs back with every rotation. That flexing takes force, and your engine or battery supplies it. Continental writes that tyres account for between 20 and 30% of a car’s fuel consumption. A tyre with low rolling resistance flexes less and therefore loses less energy.

Three things determine the rolling resistance of a tyre: the rubber compound (silica in the tread lowers the resistance), the construction of the carcass and the tyre pressure. The first two you choose when you buy. The third you decide yourself, every month again. We come back to that further down.

What does the EU tyre label say about fuel efficiency?

The EU tyre label shows rolling resistance as a class from A (most efficient) to E. According to Continental the current label has applied since 1 May 2021 and also shows wet grip (A to E) and external rolling noise in decibels with a class A to C. According to the ANWB, classes A to C are unchanged, the old class E is now D and the old classes F and G fall under E.

Part of the label What it measures What it tells you
Fuel efficiency A to E Rolling resistance The less energy the tyre loses, the higher the class. A is the most efficient.
Wet grip A to E Braking distance on a wet road The shorter the braking distance, the higher the class. Safety comes before efficiency.
Rolling noise in dB, class A to C Noise outside the car Says nothing about the noise inside the car.
Snowflake (3PMSF) and ice symbol Tested performance on snow and ice Only on winter and all-season tyres that pass the test.

Sources: Continental, EU tire label, and ANWB, Bandenlabel, consulted 6 November 2026.

How many litres the difference between class A and class E saves in practice is not given as a fixed figure by the official sources. The ANWB writes that the label is a first orientation and that tyre tests and expert advice remain important. How to read the whole label is explained in our article on the EU tyre label.

How much does a fuel efficient tyre save in litres and euros?

More than the label suggests. In its tyre tests the ANWB measures the consumption of every tyre on the same car and the same route. Those figures show how big the difference between tyres of the same size can be.

ANWB test Difference in consumption What it costs
All-season tyre test 2026, 185/65 R15 (22 June 2026) Up to 0.3 to 0.4 litres per 100 km between tyres 5 to 7% higher or lower consumption
Winter tyre test 2026 versus all-season (22 September 2026) Up to 0.6 litres per 100 km About 1.4 cents per km, around € 600 over 42,500 km at the petrol price at the time
Winter tyre test 2025 (22 September 2025) Up to 0.4 litres per 100 km About € 390 over 50,000 km

Source: ANWB, news reports on the tyre tests of 2025 and 2026, consulted 6 November 2026.

The ANWB draws a clear conclusion: cheap to buy is by no means cheap to run in every case. In the all-season test of 2026 the Continental AllSeasonContact 2, one of the most expensive tyres in the test, came out with the lowest cost per kilometre. The tyre with the lowest purchase price was less favourable per kilometre. In the winter tyre test of 2025 the ANWB named the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P the most economical and quietest tyre of the test. What that means for your choice between budget, mid-range and premium is explained in tyre brands explained.

Fuel efficient tyres and the range of an electric car

On an electric car rolling resistance translates directly into range. Continental writes that the right tyre can improve battery range by as much as 10%. Michelin quotes a range increase of up to 7% for its e.Primacy. An efficient tyre therefore means charging less often, or getting further on the same charge.

An electric car is heavier than a comparable petrol car and delivers its torque instantly. Michelin reports that tyres on an electric car wear up to 20% faster as a result. So when choosing, look not only at rolling resistance but also at the load index. Continental advises checking for the HL marking (High Load) if your car requires a higher load index because of the battery weight. All the points to watch are in our article on tyres for an electric car.

Tyre pressure also counts for more on an electric car. Continental writes that the correct pressure can extend the range per charge by up to 15%. Because of their weight, electric cars often require a higher pressure than you are used to. The value is on the sticker in the door pillar or behind the charging flap.

Tyre pressure: the most efficient tyre loses to a soft one

An efficient tyre only helps when it is at the right pressure. Continental calculates that a tyre running 0.3 bar (about 4 psi) too soft costs about 1.5% more fuel through the higher rolling resistance. According to the ANWB, low tyre pressure can add up to € 100 a year in extra fuel. On top of that, a soft tyre wears faster and unevenly and has a considerably longer braking distance in an emergency stop.

  • Check every month and before a long journey, the ANWB advises. Continental says every two to four weeks.
  • Measure cold: on a day you have not driven yet, or after no more than 5 km (ANWB).
  • Use the manufacturer’s value: in the owner’s manual, on the sticker in the door pillar or behind the fuel flap. For a full load the manufacturer often gives a higher value.
  • Do not rely on the warning light alone: according to the ANWB the tyre pressure monitoring system only warns once a tyre is more than 20% below the specified pressure.

At every tyre change and every service we check the tyre pressure and set the tyres to the manufacturer’s value. If you want to do it yourself, read our article on checking tyre pressure.

Efficient or safe: how do you make the choice?

Choose on wet grip first and only then on rolling resistance. A tyre that saves a litre per 100 km but takes metres longer to stop on a wet road is not a good buy. In its tests the ANWB measures both properties and shows that the best tyres score well on both. In the all-season test of 2026 only 8 of the 16 tyres received a positive buying recommendation.

With us you choose from three price classes in the size approved for your registration: budget, mid-range and premium. In each class we look for a tyre with a good label for wet grip and low rolling resistance, and tell you which one suits your mileage and your car. If you drive a lot of kilometres, the ANWB figures show that consumption weighs more heavily than the purchase price. If you drive little, the purchase price weighs more heavily. We tell you one price in advance, based on your registration number. That price includes the tyres, fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. If anything needs adding, we tell you first. Everything about how we work is on the page tyre replacement in Rotterdam.

Economical driving does not start with the tyre. Low tyre pressure, alignment that is out and a roof box that is left on often cost more fuel together than the difference between two tyres. If you see uneven wear or the steering wheel sits off-centre, have the alignment checked. According to the ANWB a correctly aligned car uses less fuel and its tyres wear more slowly.

Frequently asked questions

Is a tyre with label A for fuel also the best tyre?

No, not automatically. The label gives three properties: rolling resistance, wet grip and noise. A tyre can have an A for rolling resistance and still brake poorly on a wet road. The ANWB calls the label a first orientation and measures much more in its tests, such as braking distance on dry and wet roads, tyre life and consumption.

How much fuel do fuel efficient tyres save per year?

That depends on your mileage and on the tyre you have now. The ANWB measures differences between tyres of the same size of up to 0.3 to 0.4 litres per 100 km (5 to 7%) and in the winter tyre test of 2026 up to 0.6 litres per 100 km. At 15,000 km a year, 0.4 litres per 100 km is 60 litres of fuel a year.

Does an efficient tyre also help the range of a hybrid?

Yes. A hybrid drives part of the time on electricity and part on petrol. In both cases rolling resistance costs energy. On a plug-in hybrid you notice it in the electric range, on a hybrid without a plug at the pump.

Do fuel efficient tyres wear out faster?

No, that is not a fixed rule. In the ANWB tests of 2025 and 2026 the tyres with the lowest consumption often scored well on tyre life too. The Hankook i*cept evo3 had the lowest cost per kilometre in the winter tyre test of 2025 with a life of 72,400 km. Wear depends mainly on driving style, tyre pressure and alignment.

Does a higher tyre pressure help you drive more economically?

Yes, a slightly higher pressure lowers the rolling resistance. The ANWB calls this an eco pressure: the car then rides more firmly. Stay within the values the manufacturer gives for your car and your load. Over-inflated tyres wear in the middle and, according to Continental, have less grip and a longer braking distance.

Are special EV tyres compulsory for an electric car?

No. Michelin states that its premium tyres are suitable for electric cars. The load index (possibly HL) must match the weight of your car, and you preferably choose a tyre with low rolling resistance. A tyre developed specifically for EVs often combines that with less noise.

Can Autobedrijf Willemsbrug fit fuel efficient tyres?

Yes. We supply and fit summer, winter and all-season tyres of all brands, also for electric cars. You call us with your registration number, we look up the approved sizes and you choose from budget, mid-range and premium. We tell you one price in advance, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres.

Fuel efficient tyres for your car?

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We find a tyre with low rolling resistance and good wet grip in your size and tell you one price in advance, including fitting, balancing and disposal.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. Call us with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it.

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