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Author	Topic: How many L/100KM do you lose from your winter tires?	Post a Reply Back to Topics

kevinf28 Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:325 Points:162,900 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 9:19:29 AM Ignore kevinf28 Report Abuse Hello all, Just curious, since I put on my winter tires, I went from a 7.8L/100KM average to 8.3L/100KM, I do a lot of country highway + 401. I did not buy specialty winter tires for "low rolling resistance" as I thought that was counter productive. How many L/100KM do you lose from your winter tires?

kevinf28

Veteran Author
Hamilton

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Points:162,900
Joined:Sep 2012

Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 9:19:29 AM

Ignore kevinf28 Report Abuse

Hello all,

Just curious, since I put on my winter tires, I went from a 7.8L/100KM average to 8.3L/100KM, I do a lot of country highway + 401.

I did not buy specialty winter tires for "low rolling resistance" as I thought that was counter productive.

How many L/100KM do you lose from your winter tires?

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

IAMCANADIAN73 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,405 Points:1,124,750 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2013 12:02:35 AM Ignore IAMCANADIAN73 Report Abuse 1-2
golfer7332 Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:206 Points:77,490 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2013 10:54:58 PM Ignore golfer7332 Report Abuse The colder temperature drops gas mileage. I didn't find snow tires uses more gas. For the last few months the initial idle usage is 1.3-1.7 l/hr in the cold morning with the tdi which increase the average to 6.-6.3 l/100k
giwan All-Star Author Michigan Posts:503 Points:90,890 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Mar 16, 2013 12:56:09 AM Ignore giwan Report Abuse how sure are you of calcs
chipote Champion Author Washington Posts:1,274 Points:389,555 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Mar 15, 2013 11:52:30 PM Ignore chipote Report Abuse Did not loose any mileage
Banjoe Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:4,279 Points:617,270 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 15, 2013 8:15:26 AM Ignore Banjoe Report Abuse Not sure that I lose anything with the tire change but the temperature change is a big downer for mileage in our diesel. Consumption reads very high until the little creature finally warms up. Until then, it's pretty brutal.
Dennis783 Champion Author Des Moines Posts:13,609 Points:2,706,810 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 15, 2013 8:06:06 AM Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse I use the same tires all year
sagnat Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,174 Points:311,410 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2013 2:46:16 PM Ignore sagnat Report Abuse Fortunately I live where I don't have to use snows. I did live and work in Michigan for a couple years and ran Bridgestone Blizzacks on my Mercedes in the winter. Didn't really notice an impact to the MPG but then again that big 5.6 litre engine didn't really get good MPG anytime.
metalhat73 Veteran Author Wilmington Posts:386 Points:243,555 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 10:46:59 AM Ignore metalhat73 Report Abuse Used Nitto SN2 snow tires this winter and didn't see a reduction in fuel consumption. The reduced speed may had helped.
PaylessKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,750 Points:1,585,450 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 12:51:47 AM Ignore PaylessKY Report Abuse I use the same tires all year long.
herbiepopnecker Champion Author British Columbia Posts:13,621 Points:2,510,230 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2013 10:36:01 PM Ignore herbiepopnecker Report Abuse I get better mileage - mainly because of reduced speeds. I wonder if because you're pushing tons of slush and snow out of the way its fair to blame the mileage drop on the tires.
pmjwright2 All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:551 Points:71,680 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2013 2:26:32 PM Ignore pmjwright2 Report Abuse Oh, and driving habits too--people likely don't drive as aggressively on those days when traction and visibility are poorer. Much more common in winter!
pmjwright2 All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:551 Points:71,680 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2013 2:13:07 PM Ignore pmjwright2 Report Abuse Kevin, I also lose about 0.6 l/100 km. (6.5 summer/7.1 winter on my commute). Part of that is the switchover to winter gas, but that happens around Oct 1 and April 1 and I can see the change in fuel consumption even when I haven't switched tires over. We all know that winter FE is affected by severel factors: softer grippier tires with higher rolling resistance; colder denser air (more wind resistance); winter vs summer gas (3% less energy per litre according to PetroCanada); increased rolling resistance caused by snow or water on the road; longer warmup time (even if you just start your car and go) where your engine is running inefficiently. About the only factor that works the other way is using A/C in summer. But here's another factor that is rarely recognized: the difference in tire diameters. Over many years and vehicles and tires, I've found that snowtires are usually slightly smaller in circumference than the equivalent all-seasons. With my current car, I've noticed my commute is exactly 1 km (2%) shorter in summer vs winter. No, my office did't pick up and move, it's the exact same route! Just because of the difference in tire circumference, my odom under-reports the summertime distance relative to winter because the slightly taller summer tires will make fewer rotations on the trip. As a result, the difference in FE is even greater than I have calculated above.
dontuknowOH Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,100 Points:36,605 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 8:42:05 AM Ignore dontuknowOH Report Abuse If one really thinks about what the differience is between a rough tread traction tire compared to a smoother surface softer compound regular road multi purpose,quietier tire,then those differiences may show the loss % in mileage. My thoughts are the traction tire has more large sype areas rather tread tunnels to trap material into the tread forming a grip on the substance snow/mud/whatever. The rough design tread catches air on dry days each rugged rubber traction part acts like a mini fan blade on the outer wheel surface acting somewhat like a blower fan when turning fast at highway speeds,fanning tha air. Also all the tires I have looked at had rough design edge iregulatories for deep muck travel,desiged to get a grip from the tread sidewall.these finned areas catch air also and the rolling resistance could be affected (increased). A few drivers have seen furnace blower cage fans,they have small finns but do move a lot of air,need HP energy and the rotor fan spins normally slower than an auto wheel,that's my comparison or reasoning for the fuel energy loss,possible the Winter traction tire is physically heavier weight wise,that affects motion dynamics. Just my thoughts....
HotRod10 Champion Author Wyoming Posts:2,291 Points:40,590 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2013 11:22:17 AM Ignore HotRod10 Report Abuse Some of your loss could be due to the engine taking longer to warm up, winter blend fuel, and other factors of winter driving, and not just the tires. Even so, a 6% decrease in mileage to decrease your stopping distance on snow and ice by 20% (over all-season tires) or 125% (over performance/summer tires) seems like a worthwhile trade to me. Tire Test I actually went to the junkyard a got an extra set of rims for my car so I don't have to pay for mounting and unmounting the tires twice a year. [Edited by: HotRod10 at 2/5/2013 11:26:08 AM EST]
kevinf28 Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:325 Points:162,900 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 1, 2013 7:40:14 PM Ignore kevinf28 Report Abuse My average actually got better.. now its sitting at 8.1L/100KM. I have only had this car two winters, and I don't have last years written down... at least now I do for next year ;)
Banjoe Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:4,279 Points:617,270 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 1, 2013 6:56:10 AM Ignore Banjoe Report Abuse golfer7332 - thanks for those numbers. Our TDI is seeing the same drop with the winter temps. Our drop doesn't' come from excessive idling as there's very little time spent trying to warm things up as these critters never seem to get warm just idling. I was thinking there is some change in diesel fuel blends in the winter as there are with gasoline but don't know if that's the case or not. The cold air is nice and dense so the engine should be running a bit more efficiently. Maybe all the winter clothes as well as the collected ice and snow that adds enough weight to consume more fuel? Long story short - mileage drops when the thermometer drops.
DanFMA Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,126 Points:1,075,410 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jan 1, 2013 6:23:54 AM Ignore DanFMA Report Abuse Don't change tires.
golfer7332 Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:206 Points:77,490 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 31, 2012 9:56:21 PM Ignore golfer7332 Report Abuse It could be a number of factors. A longer idle warm up time. More ethanol in winter gas has less energy per volume. My TDI diesel has shown typical idle fuel use is .9-1.1L/hr. In summer, it is .6-.7L/hr. The average 50km trip has jumped from 5.2L/100 to 5.7-5.8 in the winter months. this was before the snow hits.
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,723 Points:1,331,300 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 31, 2012 11:03:36 AM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse Losing grip/traction with the road under slippery conditions is not a good thing -- it leads to unplanned visits with the ditches alongside the road ...
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,803 Points:2,898,535 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 31, 2012 8:09:54 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse I wouldn't know because we don't especially use winter type tires in this area.
kevinf28 Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:325 Points:162,900 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 30, 2012 9:54:50 PM Ignore kevinf28 Report Abuse I get the lower fuel economy with or without snow. Im sure with slippery conditions it would be worse though, as not all engine force is translated into forward momentum.
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,723 Points:1,331,300 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 10:23:32 AM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse I would think that you may be looking at the function of snow depth --> the deeper the snow, the harder it is to make headway.