Before going to the pros and cons of low rolling resistance tyres (LLR) lets take a look at what are LLR tyres
What are low rolling resistance tyres?
The Low rolling resistance tyres is a type of tyre that has been designed to reduce the excess usage of energy that is required by the engine to roll the wheels. As the name suggests, these tyres are constructed in such a way that it requires less power to move the vehicle which will result in better fuel economy.
These tyres will allow the energy that a vehicle generates to be consumed by the engine with significant decrease in the effort or usage of energy from the engine for moving the vehicle. The energy required to roll the wheels is calculated in rolling resistance.
A high rolling resistance tyre (LRR) will consume more energy which is not cost effective while the low rolling resistance tyres are cost effective since it saves the fuel and increases the economy.
Tyres usually come with different characteristics depending on the terrains and weather conditions which allows the buyers to carefully select but have you ever imagined how choosing a low rolling tyres will benefit you? Here are the pros and cons which will help you understand whether you require low rolling resistance tyre or not.
Also See: Everything To Know About Tyre Manufacturing
Pros of low rolling resistance tyres:
High quality material of construction with Silica:
The normal tyres are manufactured with different rubber materials but the low rolling resistance tyres are constructed with a mixture of Silica in addition to the traditional compounds used for manufacturing tyres.
The natural and synthetic rubbers used in the normal tyres are not capable of reducing the resistance and creating smooth ride quality.
Shallower design for better traction:
The innovative design of low rolling resistance tyres provides good traction to drive safely on wet and dry conditions. The conventional tyres have deeper tread pattern that is useful for driving in rough terrains and not on tarmac but the LRR tyres are suitable for driving on tarmac with comfort and smoothness.
Improved fuel efficiency:
The materials used and the design elements ensures that the low rolling resistance tyres provide maximum fuel efficiency. The shallow and high quality design ensures low resistance while driving which means that less effort is put by the engine in rolling the tyres which results in better fuel economy.
Conventional tyre standards:
The low rolling resistance tyres meet the conventional tyre standards in terms of traction, temperature resistance and durability of the tread on the surface of the tyres.
Cons of low rolling resistance tyres:
Reduced grip on roads:
The low rolling resistance tyres are designed to be used on smooth roads. This results in the tyre getting lower grip when compared with the conventional tyres. The LRR cannot be used for racing or for speeding. It is hazardous to perform cornering maneuvers like that done in racing . The older LRR tyres are known for being worn out soon.
Requires to be fully inflated:
There is a need for keeping the low resistance tyres fully inflated to get the maximum performance that it posses. The fuel efficiency is said to be become less if the tyres are not fully inflated all the time.
Fuel saving is insignificant for SUV's:
In comparison to conventional tyres these tyres do not provide the best fuel efficiency as a result of which the SUV and sedan owners prefer to opt for better road grip and safety on harsh terrains that the conventional tyres offer.
