Installing low-rolling resistance tires that are otherwise costlier and noisier than standard rubber is another easy fix, with re-sculpting front fascia designs to improve higher-speed aerodynamics also a short-run possibility.
Instead, it orchestrated what may be the most unlikely brand resurrection in marketing history by leveraging its powerful dealer network, rolling out splashy new tires and repositioning the brand slightly down-market.
As sighted drivers do, Mark made active use of his other senses such as sound, listening to the noise the tires generate rolling over the roads, and used the sense of angular and linear acceleration perceived from his inner ear to make judgments and adjustments to the controls of the vehicle.
Bridgestone says that Ecopia tires (as seen on the Nissan Leaf) improve rolling resistance 36 percent, which means a 4 percent fuel economy improvement (5 percent for Dueler truck tires).