Report: 'Green tires' could cut fuel consumption

COLOGNE, Germany (April 21, 2015) — 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.

The 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 also 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.

To achieve valid results, the half-yearly test was conducted in two phases, Lanxess said. During the first three months, the three vehicles in Group 1 were fitted with green tires (rolling resistance class B on the EU tire label), while the other three, in Group 2, had standard tires (rolling resistance class F on the EU tire label). This was reversed in the second phase.

The results showed that the maximum fuel saving amounted to 6.96 percent and CO2 emissions dropped by up to 155 kilograms per 10,000 kilometers. Lanxess said the average of all vehicles was around 4 percent.

TÜV Rheinland monitored and verified the practical tire test.

By refitting the first 130 vehicles, RheinEnergie expects to cut CO2 emissions by up to 11 metric tons a year.

The Lanxess/RheinEnergie joint practical tire test is part of the SmartCity Cologne project, which was launched by RheinEnergie and the city of Cologne in 2012.