Whilst automakers and suppliers alike are trying their best to improve fuel efficiency on every model they produce, a great number of drivers often neglect one of the leading causes of poor fuel economy.
And no, we’re not talking about being heavy footed or leaving your windows open on the highway, but tire pressure.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drivers can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent simply by keeping their vehicle’s tires inflated to the proper pressure. Another recent federal study says that under-inflated tires triples the risk of an accidents.
To partially address this problem, Nissan has developed a new tire-warning system called “Easy-Fill Tire Alert” that currently comes standard on all 2013 Nissan Altima, 2012 Nissan LEAF and 2012 Nissan Quest models.
The Japanese automaker said that the system will become available (either standard or optional) on all future models it brings to market beginning in 2013.
While Nissan’s “Easy-Fill Tire Alert” system won’t force drivers to fill up their tires, what it does is warn them to a low tire and assist them when they decide to put in air.
Once a tire is being filled with air, the vehicle’s four-way flashers come on to confirm the process has begun. When the tire reaches the right pressure level, the horn then beeps to inform drivers that the tire has been properly inflated. In the case that the driver/user continues to fill the tires, the horn honks more aggressively to indicate over inflation.
Now, if only someone could discover a way to automatically fill our car’s tires with air on the move… Come to think of it, this could open a whole new chapter in handling and vehicle dynamics.
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