Report: Underinflated Tires Are Costing Vehicle Owners $18.6B Each Year

A recent report released from Firestone Complete Auto Care showed that many drivers are losing money on fuel costs from underinflated tires.

As shared in a recent press release, the report, “How to Get Money from Thin Air: The Hidden Benefits of Proper Tire Inflation,” is based on data gathered from over 1,800 Firestone stores between June 2024 and March 2025.

It found that 42% of vehicles serviced at Firestone stores had underinflated tires, with the average vehicle’s tire pressure being 13 PSI lower than the recommended pressure—something that would roughly cost drivers an extra $18.6 billion on fuel. The company has estimated that drivers could take an extra 500-mile road trip with the money they may save by properly inflating tires every year.

It was found that the states and districts with the highest rate of cars with underinflated tires were District of Columbia (72%), Hawaii (61%), and California (57%). Northeastern drivers had the lowest rate of cars with underinflated tires of any region in the U.S. (28% overall), with New Hampshire (18%) and Rhode Island (22%) leading the charge.

Additionally, sports cars and minivans were the types of vehicles that most often needed more air in their tires.