New TRB Special Report: Tires and Passenger Vehicle Fuel Economy : informing consumers, improving performance.

Each year Americans spend about $20 billion to replace approximately 200 million tires on their passenger cars and light trucks, and the choices affect the handling, traction, comfort, and appearance--as well as the fuel economy--of their vehicles. At the request of Congress, a study committee examined the rolling resistance characteristics of passenger tires and how changes in tire designs and materials to reduce rolling resistance can influence other tire attributes.