At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show Michelin unveiled a new tyre that has lower rolling resistance, thereby reducing fuel use and carbon emissions.

It makes sense that while we continue to drive our cars regardless of their impact on our environment, we at least make some effort to limit the damage that they cause. It’s important to check our tyre pressures to make sure that tyres are pumped up enough to lower their rolling resistance. Next time we need new tyres we can enquire about whether these Michelen Low Rolling Resistance tyres are available to replace the ones that we’ve worn out. And we can drive in a way that uses less fuel, an activity known as hypermiling. We can all learn to reduce fuel consumption by changing the way that we drive, here are some tips to get started:

• Calculate your car’s average MPG so that you can start trying to improve it.
• Put some thought into your driving etiquette. By being a courteous driver and being conscious of other drivers on the road, you can reduce the amount of time you spend braking. Once you’ve braked you need to accelerate to get moving again, which uses fuel.
• Don’t leave it until the last minute to brake at a red light. The moment you see the red light, or are aware of a stop sign ahead, take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
• Accelerate gently, this uses less fuel.
• Use your cruise control to keep your driving speed moderate.

And here’s one last eco-friendly suggestion. Your old tyres are now recycled when you’ve finished with them, thanks to EU legislation. Be sure to close the recycling loop by buying products made from recycled tyres. This really cute child’s swing is just one of the beautiful products that are made from old tyres. Other products that are made by recycling old tyres include pencil cases and mouse mats, all-weather surfaces and even new tyres. Or you could take your old tyres home and use them for gardening. A ‘tower’ of four tyres makes a great space to grow potatoes when you don’t have a big surface area.