Four fist-size contact patches between your tires and the asphalt are the only things keeping your used car in New York connected to the road, so people who make the right choice in rubber may find they pay less in fuel costs.

Several companies have introduced more efficient tires, including Cooper’s GFE model which is designed to reduce rolling resistance because of more flexible compounds within the rubber.

“With the recent volatility in gasoline prices, customers are looking for ways to improve their vehicle fuel economy,” said Chuck Yurkovich, Cooper vice president of global technology. “Tire rolling resistance has a significant impact on vehicle fuel economy, so Cooper responded with a new tire specifically designed for fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Drivers may not need to replace the tires on their used cars in New York, but they can still improve the performance of the ones they have with good maintenance.

The Department of Energy says that drivers could save the equivalent of 7 cents on every gallon of gas by ensuring that under-inflated tires are at the proper air pressure recommended by the car manufacturer, generally 30-32 PSI.