What is the impact of worn tires on fuel efficiency?

Worn tires significantly impact fuel efficiency primarily by increasing rolling resistance. When tires are worn, they often have uneven tread patterns or reduced tread depth, which leads to a larger contact patch with the road. This larger contact area creates more resistance that the engine must work against, thereby requiring more energy (and fuel) to maintain speed.

Increased rolling resistance can lead to a noticeable decrease in fuel efficiency, as the vehicle expends more fuel to overcome this resistance. Optimal tire condition is crucial for reducing rolling resistance, ensuring better fuel economy.

While other choices, such as decreased traction on wet roads, may be valid concerns regarding tire wear, they do not directly correlate to fuel efficiency as the increase in rolling resistance does. Similarly, options about air resistance and engine performance, while impacting vehicle operation and safety, do not directly address the change in fuel consumption related to the condition of the tires.