Top 10 Best Low Rolling Resistance Tires to Save Fuel: Recommendations & Reviews

Despite the recent reduction of gas prices, drivers still want to extract the most out of their fuel. Nobody wants to spend the gas in their vehicles unnecessarily, which is why people are increasingly interested in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Fortunately, you can lower the fuel consumption of your car with some simple measures. One of the most straightforward things you can do is replace your worn-out tires with a set of low-rolling-resistance ones.

That way, the mpg meter on your board computer will increase, without a big sacrifice on the performance front. In other words, you’ll be paying less for gas, especially in the long run.

With that said, many manufacturers have fuel efficient tires in their lineups, and not every one of them works very well. The best low-rolling-resistance tires should not only reduce the fuel consumption, but also give you a predictable, safe, and comfortable ride.

Moreover, if the tread on the tires wears quickly, the benefits of the reduced fuel consumption will be diminished. More precisely, you will spend all the gas savings on buying new tires sooner than anticipated.

To help you find the best tires for fuel economy, we created a detailed review of the best products available on the market right now. In this review, we will give you the best low-rolling-resistance tires in each category.

Unlike other reviews, we will cover tires for most vehicle types, including compact cars, sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and even trucks. That way, every driver can find a favorite set of fuel-efficient tires. In other words, there is no reason to give you an absolute winner if it won’t fit your vehicle.

After the Top 10 list, you can find a detailed buying guide about the best low rolling resistance tires. In that guide, we will explain all the various tire types. We recommend reading through if you don’t understand tires, as there are many important features to consider.

Top 10 Best Low Rolling Resistance Tires to Save Fuel

1. Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Best Passenger Low Rolling Resistance Tires

The Energy Saver A/S is one of the best fuel efficient tires on the market, thanks to Michelin’s proprietary Green X technology. With a set of these tires, you can expect a 2-3 mpg gain, which is better than most of the competitors. This makes the Michelin Energy Saver A/S an excellent choice for drivers of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles (longer range).

When it comes to performance, the Energy Saver A/S does have slightly lower grip levels than comparable tires that don’t have low-rolling resistance. However, the tire handles everyday tasks with aplomb – traction and braking are excellent on dry and wet pavement. On top of that, the tire can be used in light snow, unlike some rivals.

Moreover, thanks to the Comfort Control Technology, the Energy Saver is supremely quiet on the highway, and very comfortable over bumps. Finally, the 65,000-mile treadwear warranty is also very good for the category.

2. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max

Best Passenger Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Goodyear’s Assurance lineup of tires has always been one of our favorites. The Fuel Max is the product with the best fuel efficiency, thanks to the low-rolling-resistance all-season compound. With a set of these tires, you should see a 1-2mpg gain.

The Fuel Max has other features that are very welcome. Thanks to the inboard and outboard Dry Tread Zones, the tire handles surprisingly well, even at higher speeds. The Wet Tread Zone, on the other hand, improves wet traction, handling, and braking.

The Assurance Fuel Max is very good for comfort – the ride quality is second to none, especially when driving over uneven roads. Nonetheless, we would’ve liked slightly less noise on the highway – the Fuel Max isn’t particularly quiet.

On top of that, you shouldn’t expect great snow traction from this tire. On the positive side, though, the 65,000-mile treadwear warranty is one of the best in the category.

Best Touring Low Rolling Resistance Tires

The newest addition in Continental’s touring lineup is immediately one of our favorites. Apart from the average snow traction, we were impressed by the TrueContact Tour in every category that we tested.

On the road, this tire performs as good as it gets from a touring tire. Responsiveness is among the best in the category, which improves the driving experience. Moreover, the levels of grip and traction are very good. The TrueContact Tour is probably the best touring tire for wet conditions now as well.

We are also big fans of the comfort this tire provides. Thanks to Comfort Ride Technology, not many vibrations are transferred to the cabin. The ride quality is smooth over larger bumps as well, and noise is well-suppressed on the highway.

Finally, the TrueContact Tour comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is one of the best in the business right now.

Best Touring Low Rolling Resistance Tires

If the premium tires on this list are out of your reach, then the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter might be an excellent choice. Using mostly Bridgestone’s technology, this tire impresses in almost every category, especially when you take the price into consideration.

The silica-enhanced Long-Link Carbon tread compound in this tire improves fuel efficiency by 1-2 mpg, but it also reduces wear and improves performance. In our testing, we found that the Champion Fuel Fighter is very responsive and grippy on dry pavement.

In wet conditions, the tire has very high levels of grip and traction, and it resists hydroplaning very well. On top of that, the Firestone’s touring tire exhibits very little noise on the highway, and it rides well over bumps. Snow traction is also good, but not exceptional.

The Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter also comes with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty.

5. Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus

Best Grand-Touring Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Overall, the Ecopia EP422 Plus is one of the best fuel-efficient tires on the market. Not only it offers superior low-rolling-resistance technology to its rivals, but it also handles everyday tasks with aplomb.

Thanks to the NanoPro-Tech compound, the Ecopia EP422 Plus offers very high levels of grip and traction, regardless of the temperature. With a set of these tires, your vehicle will feel very responsive and safe. You will simply feel like you’re in control.

Moreover, the Ecopia EP422 works tremendously well on wet surfaces. Traction is excellent; braking is among the best in the category while hydroplaning resistance is outstanding. The tire also works in light snow, but in this category, it trails behind the best.

On the positive side, the Ecopia EP422 is supremely quiet, even at very high speeds. The ride quality is also very plush.

Finally, Bridgestone offers a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on the Ecopia EP422 Plus, which is one of the best in the category.

Best Grand-Touring Low Rolling Resistance Tires

The Premier A/S is one of the best low rolling resistance tires for drivers that want a comfortable, yet supremely responsive driving experience. Right now, the Premier A/S is the best grand-touring tire for handling and braking.

With a set of these tires, your car will feel sportier in the corners. More importantly, it will grip the road better, which means that you can enter corners more vigorously. Traction is also outstanding, as is braking.

Furthermore, the Premier A/S is perhaps the best grand-touring tire for wet conditions in its class. It handles outstandingly well on damp and wet surfaces, and it resists hydroplaning like a real champ. Oh, and thanks to the Expanding Rain Grooves, the tire keeps the outstanding wet handling for longer.

Like many other Michelin tires, the Premier A/S is supremely quiet and comfortable, certainly among the best tires in the world. Snow traction is also very usable. Moreover, the Michelin Total Performance Technology brings low-rolling resistance, without adversely affecting other performance aspects of the tire.

With that said, Michelin only provides a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty on the Premier A/S, which is lower than its closest rivals.

Best Crossover/SUV Touring Low Rolling Resistance Tires

The CrossContact LX20 is one of the most popular tires for drivers of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. And why wouldn’t it be – it scores highly in almost every category.

On the road, the LX20 handles everyday tasks without any issue. The tire is very responsive, which improves steering wheel feel. Moreover, the grip and traction levels are very high – you will feel completely safe, even when driving hard.

In rainy weather, the LX20 again handles outstandingly well. Grip, traction, and braking are all excellent, and the tire resists hydroplaning very well. The tire is also usable in the snow, but not exceptional.

The ride quality of the CrossContact LX20 is very plush and without a lot of vibrations from the road. The tire is also very quiet on the highway. Meanwhile, the EcoPlus Technology lowers the fuel consumption of your vehicle.

Finally, Continental provides a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on this tire, which is slightly lower than the best in the category, but still excellent in its own right.

Best Crossover/SUV Touring Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Pirelli’s touring offering for drivers of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks impresses in many categories – the only gripe we have is the slightly lower 65,000-mile treadwear warranty. Other than that, we only have superlatives to share.

Like most Pirelli tires, there is a big accent here on drivability. On the road, this is one of the most responsive touring crossover tires, giving the driver an engaging driving experience. Grip and traction are also outstanding, both over dry and wet pavement.

Despite the outstanding handling performances, the Scorpion Verde All Season Plus is equipped with low-rolling-resistance technology, which lowers fuel consumption by 1-2 mpg.

Moreover, the Noise Cancelling System on this tire makes it supremely quiet on the highway. The ride quality is also very plush and smooth.

Best Street/Sport Truck Low Rolling Resistance Tires

The summer version of the Scorpion Verde brings much better handling into the equation. Right now, the Pirelli Scorpion Verde is one of the best fuel efficient tires for drivers that want engaging handling.

With a set of these tires on your SUV or crossover, you will experience extra-responsive handling, a lot of grip and traction, and very strong braking, both on dry and wet conditions.

The low rolling resistance tread compound that features technologically advanced polymers also improves fuel consumption, which was previously unheard in high-performance tires.

10. Michelin X-Ice Xi3

Best Winter Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Overall, the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is the best winter tire on the market right now. When compared to its greatest rival, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, it trails in snow and ice braking, but the results are very close. You will probably never find the difference, even if you drive both tires side by side.

More importantly, Michelin’s winter tire is equipped with the Green X standard, which lowers the fuel consumption of your car. On top of that, the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is the only winter tire that comes with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Best Low Rolling Resistance Tires to Save Fuel: Buyer's Guide

1. Touring and Grand-Touring Tires are the Best Choice for Sedans and Minivans

Touring tires and their derivative, grand-touring tires are the most common type of tires on the road today. The reason why people overwhelmingly buy touring tires is their balance of qualities. These products score very good results in almost every category.

More importantly, though, almost every new touring tire has some sort of low-rolling-resistance technology, which should lower the fuel consumption on any vehicle.

The number one reason for the popularity of touring tires is the price. These products are almost exclusively cheaper than their alternatives. Moreover, they last much longer than any other tire type, which makes them a much more cost-effective choice in the long run.

Today, the best touring tires come with up to 90,000-mile treadwear warranties, which is outstanding. Oh, and it’s not just the warranty – we can confirm that touring and grand-touring tires last for a very long time.

Touring and grand-touring tires are also supremely comfortable. They are designed to give you the best possible comfort on longer journeys, thus their name. The best touring tires are extremely comfortable over bumps, ironing both smaller and larger imperfections. Moreover, they are also whisper-quiet, even at very high speeds.

The biggest downside of touring and grand-touring tires is performance. Spirited drivers, or any driver that owns a sporty vehicle, will be underwhelmed by these tires. They simply lack the bite of performance tires in the corners – grip isn’t sufficient for fast cornering, and the tires don’t communicate with the driver very well.

Nonetheless, we think that most drivers will never notice these downsides. Touring and grand-touring tires are still very capable for everyday driving. So, if you own a passenger car and drive leisurely, then these tires will give you a completely safe and reliable experience. They won’t be fun to drive, but still very safe.

But, what’s the difference between touring and grand-touring tires? Well, it’s mostly down to the speed ratings. Touring tires are designed for hybrids, sub-compact cars, compact cars, four-cylinder sedans, and compact crossovers.

Grand-touring tires, on the other hand, are designed for faster vehicles, such as V6 or turbocharged mid-size sedans, slightly larger crossovers, and even some SUVs. Grand-touring tires are also available in larger sizes, up to 20-inches.

2. Crossover/SUV Touring Tires are the Best Choice for Drivers of SUVs and Crossovers

As their name suggests, these touring tires are specifically designed for crossovers and SUVs. They have largely the same qualities as touring and grand-touring tires designed for compact cars, sedans, and minivans.

However, crossover/SUV touring tires are available in larger sizes, specifically with larger sidewalls, in order to fit modern crossovers better. While some sizes may overlap with other touring tires, we recommend going for these models, as they offer some SUV-specific features.

3. Passenger Tires are the Best Choice for Sub-Compact and Compact Cars

Passenger tires are the cheapest tires you’ll find on the market. They are mostly available in smaller sizes and lower speed ratings. When it comes to performance, these tires are slightly worse than touring tires, but that’s understandable given the class of vehicles they are designed for.

More importantly, these tires are extremely fuel-efficient, comfortable, and quiet. A pair of these tires should also last you very long, especially if driven carefully.

4. High-Performance Tires aren’t Very Good for Fuel Efficiency

High-performance tires, and their derivatives ultra-high-performance and max-performance tires will greatly improve the handling, traction, and braking on any vehicle. With a set of these tires, your car will feel much more alive in the corners; it will also grip the road better, it will brake stronger, and accelerate faster. For drivers of sports cars, there is no better choice than high-performance tires.

With that said, these tires also perform quite poorly when it comes to fuel consumption. Clearly, instead of rolling without much resistance, they are designed to stick to the road better. That’s why, while the overall performance will certainly be improved, your will also experience increased fuel consumption.

High-performance tires are also pretty expensive to buy, and they don’t last as long as touring or grand-touring tires. In the long run, these tires might cost you twice as much as touring or grand-touring tires. On top of that, they aren’t very comfortable nor quiet.

Please note that high-performance tires for SUVs, crossovers, and trucks are called Street/Sport truck tires. They are largely the same as high-performance tires for sports cars, only available in larger dimensions.

5. Summer or All-Season – Which is the More Fuel-Efficient Tire?

Interestingly, despite the popular opinion, summer tires are more fuel-efficient than all-season tires. The problem is, summer tread compound is almost exclusively used in high-performance tires today, at least in North America. And, well, you already know that high-performance tires aren’t very good for fuel-efficiency.

Most touring and grand-touring tires offered in North America have an all-season tread compound. Still, most of them are equipped with low-rolling-resistance technology, which should return amazing mpg numbers. Oh, and these tires will also work in light snow, unlike summer tires.

But, what about areas with harsh wintry weather? Well, fortunately, some manufacturers started offering low-rolling-resistance winter tires. These tires should still give you the best traction on snow and ice, yet make your vehicle more fuel-efficient.

Be aware, though – winter tires will consume more fuel than all-season or summer tires, with or without a low-rolling-resistance technology.

Final Words

As you can see from the list above, we mostly included high-quality tires from premium manufacturers. There is a reason for that. In our experience, premium tires can improve fuel efficiency greatly, without sacrificing performance. Cheaper tires will often improve fuel economy but at the cost of performance and safety. In our book, safety always has a priority over fuel consumption, and it should be in yours, too.