The right LRR tires makes a big difference also. When I had to replace my year 2000 Honda Insight tires about 5 years ago, I went to my local Discount Tire place and said I wanted the OEM tires, Bridgestone Potenza RE 92's. The sales man came back with, 'We have another Low Rolling Resistance tire that is just as good as the Potenza, and they are a little cheaper for 4 and have a better mileage rating, 60,000 instead of 40,000. He said the magic word - LRR so I said sure put 'em on. Well, about an hour later I drove out of the parking lot with the new tires and I knew immediately that I'd get much lower MPG. I drove around for about 15 minutes and sure enough I was getting 50 mpg instead of my usual 60 mpg, I drove back and said I don't want these, please change them out for the Potenza's. Salesman was very nice and said, no problem, but we'll have to order them. That was why he pushed the other tires, the Potenza's were not in stock and it took 2 weeks to get them.
So if you have an 1st Gen Honda Insight, use only Potenza RE 92 tires. Rush Tucson AZ > -----Original Message----- > From: EV [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lee Hart via EV > Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2014 3:45 PM > To: Michael Ross; Electric Vehicle Discussion List > Subject: Re: [EVDL] Range vs Speed > > Michael Ross via EV wrote: > > If I want to think I am reducing energy consumption, I seek a lower > > average speed. Not much else helps to the same extent. Skinny tires, > > better regen efficiency, hidden wiper blades, lower overall height?... > > meh. > > I agree on regen, hidden wipers, and lower height. But tires really do make a big > difference. > > There is at least a 2:1 difference in the rolling resistance of otherwise similar tires. > This translates into about a 10-20% difference in range (more at low speeds where > tires are a big part of your losses; less at high speeds where wind resistance > dominates). > > The trouble is, it's hard to find data on rolling resistance. Your best bet is usually to > get OEM tires from some car that needs to have good gas mileage. (Note that the > tires sold in tire stores are NOT the same tires that car manufacturers get!) > > Tire pressure, wheel alignment, and dragging brakes also make a big difference. > Most tires get underinflated for a "cushy ride", or just because no one has checked > the pressure in months. Wheel alignment is also likely to be off. And *most* car's > brakes drag, with the pads constantly running against the calipers because there > aren't really any spring retractors. > > -- > A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, > but when there is nothing left to take away. > -- Antoine de Saint Exupery > -- > Lee Hart's EV projects are at http://www.sunrise-ev.com/LeesEVs.htm > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
