Final answer:
The statement is false; snow tires cause increased friction with the road surface, leading to decreased fuel economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that driving with snow tires increases fuel economy is false. Snow tires are designed to provide more traction on icy and snowy roads by creating more friction. This increased friction improves safety during winter conditions but at the expense of fuel efficiency. Summer tires are less resistant to rolling, making them more fuel-efficient under normal driving conditions. Factors such as cold weather can also affect fuel consumption because a car's engine has to work harder to reach optimal operating temperatures. When temperatures drop, the air and the gasoline densify, which means that a given volume of gasoline provides slightly more energy than it would in warmer temperatures. However, this does not compensate for the increased rolling resistance from snow tires. Additionally, as the car is driven and the tires flex, their temperature and therefore the pressure increases, making the fuel economy less favorable when compared to non-winter tires.