Over the years automobile manufacturers have been put to the test to design vehicles that will meet rising Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and consumer demand brought on by high fuel prices. In their quest they have turned to develop and test low roll resistance tires. While these tires are used most frequently on hybrid cars, low rolling resistance tires are now starting to show up on more mainstream vehicles as well.

In an effort to become the leader in low roll resistance tires, General Motors is partnering with the new National Tire Research Center (NTRC) in Virginia to improve fuel economy through new tire technology. In a press release last week, GM said that it hopes to increase fuel efficiency by up to 7 percent just by changing tread patters, construction and material quality. With state of the art tire performance machinery, GM and the NTRC will be able to simulate real world emergencies and improve highway safety. The National Tire Research Center received approximately $5 million in contributions from GM.