Gas prices are going sky high and so are the prices of fuel efficient cars. The prices of these cars are going up for two reasons. The first is the turmoil in Libya and the rest of the Middle East which is causing the cost per barrel of oil to go to all time highs.

The second reason is the situation in Japan. The rolling brown outs have not only caused the production of small cars and hybrids to be stopped, but also a halt in the production of car parts. Many of these parts are used in American cars as well. A shortage in the production of fuel efficient cars at a time when the demand for them is increasing means the prices for these cars whether they are new or used are drastically up.

So what do you do if you cannot afford a buy a more fuel efficient car? The answer is to improve the gas mileage of your present car. There are some things you can do to greatly improve your gas mileage that do not cost a lot of money.

Start with your tires. Lowering the rolling resistance of your tires can actually improve your gas mileage by one or two mpg because of the reduced friction. You can lower the rolling resistance by simply keeping your tires properly inflated. If you do need to purchase new tires, look for ones with the lowest rolling resistance. High performance tires usually have higher resistance, while all season tires generally have less rolling resistance. Check the specifications on the tires to make sure. Continue reading →