COLOGNE, Germany—Lanxess A.G. claims rolling-resistance-optimized “green” tires can deliver fuel savings of up to 7 percent in urban traffic, according to the results of an 18-month test the synthetic rubber producer conducted in Germany together with energy provider RheinEnergie A.G.
Tires used in the test—graded “C” or above for fuel efficiency on the European Union tire labeling system—also reduce the CO2 emissions of vehicles compared with standard tires, Lanxess said, without identifying the make or model of the tires used.
Based on the results of the test with six vehicles, Cologne-based RheinEnergie has decided to switch its vehicle fleet over successively to “green” tires, Lanxess said.
The first step will be to refit around 130 vehicles as part of the usual tire replacement schedule resulting from wear. Others are to follow once “green tires” are available in different sizes.
During the test, the fuel consumption of six identical RheinEnergie utility vehicles in Cologne and the surrounding area was examined under real conditions, Lanxess said. The performance for both “green tires” and standard tires was compared to establish the potential savings.
All six vehicles traveled roughly 23,000 miles.