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Senior Alert
Checking Auto Tire Air Pressure Saves Lives and
Gasoline
One in five
drivers
do
not
properly
check
tire
pressure
April 24, 2006 - Better tire maintenance by senior
citizens and other motorists could reduce highway crashes, save gasoline
and keep tires rolling longer according to tire manufacturers,
retailers, auto dealers, safety advocates and state government agencies
that have made this the focus of National Tire Safety Week, which begins
today. A recent survey also found more than 80 percent of drivers do not
know how to properly check their tire pressure.
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National Tire Safety Week is an initiative of the
Rubber Manufacturers Association's "Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART"
program to promote proper tire care, which leads to a safer driving
experience. PART stands for Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread,
four basic elements of tire care.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) statistics show that about one in every three cars has a
significantly under inflated tire and that 660 fatalities and 33,000
injuries occur every year as a result of low tire pressure-related
crashes.
AAA reports that each year they receive about 4
million roadside assistance calls due to tire-related incidents. Not
surprisingly, a 2006 RMA survey found that more than 80 percent of
drivers do not know how to properly check their tire pressure.
According to the Department of Energy properly
inflated tires can also improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent and
save 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump. RMA's goal is to encourage
motorists to take better care of their tires.
"Not enough drivers are taking proper care of their
tires and that can have an effect on vehicle safety," said Donald B.
Shea, RMA President and CEO. "Properly inflated tires promote safety,
help tires last longer and maximize fuel efficiency."
An RMA nationwide survey conducted in February,
found:
● Only 19 percent of drivers properly check their
tire inflation pressure. Properly checking tires means checking at least
once a month before tires have been driven even a mile and inflating
them to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure, not the
pressure listed on the tire sidewall.
● 28 percent of drivers wrongly believe that the
best time to check their tires is when they are warm after being driven
at least a few miles.
● Less than half of drivers know where to find
the correct tire pressure - on a sticker in their vehicle that's usually
found on the driver's door or in the owner's manual. 53 percent wrongly
believe that the correct pressure is found on the tire sidewall.
● 73 percent of drivers do not check the tire
pressure in their spare tire.
● Each month, three out of four drivers wash
their car while only about one in five correctly checks their tire
pressure.
To prepare for this week RMA has worked with more
than 14,000 retail partners throughout the country to open their garage
doors for drivers looking for instruction and information on tire care
and maintenance. Many tire dealers and auto repair shops offer free tire
inflation pressure services throughout the year.
Motorists are welcome to all Goodyear Auto Centers
for free tire pressure service throughout the year, said Goodyear Auto
Center store manager Tom Heliker. It only takes five minutes each month
with a tire gauge to check tire pressure. Were happy to perform this
service or to show drivers how to do it themselves.
Tires connect our vehicles to the road, said
California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Steve Beeuwsaert. Ensuring
the safety of your car and your passengers includes regular tire care
and maintenance. Under inflated and over inflated tires can both be
safety hazards. It is the CHPs goal to make sure all drivers arrive
safely to every destination. Motorists can do their part and protect
family and friends by checking their tires at least once a month.
Among the list of Be Tire Smart partners are: AAA,
American Car Care Centers, Big 10 Tires, Belle Tire, Big O Tires,
Discount Tire Co., Firestone Complete Auto Care, Goodyear Auto Service
Centers, Kaufman Tire, Les Schwab, Merchant's Tire, National Tire and
Battery (NTB), National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Northwest
Tire, Peerless Tires, Pep Boys, ProCare Automotive Services, Sears
Automotive Centers, STS Tire and Auto Centers, Sullivan Tires, Tire
Centers-LLC, Tire Factory, Tire Kingdom, Tires Plus, Town Fair Tires,
VIP Parts, Tires and Service and many others.
More information about the "Be Tire Smart - Play
Your PART" program and National Tire Safety Week can be found at
http://www.betiresmart.org/. Additional tire safety
information can be found at NHTSA's web site,
http://www.safercar.gov/ and on AAA club web sites at
http://www.aaa.com/.
The Be Tire Smart program is funded by RMA's tire
manufacturer members: Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., Continental
Tire North America, Inc., Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, The Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Company, Michelin North America, Pirelli North America,
Inc. and Yokohama Tire Corporation.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association is the
national trade association for the rubber products industry. Its members
include more than 100 companies that manufacture various rubber
products, including tires, hoses, belts, seals, molded goods, and other
finished rubber products. RMA members employ over 120,000 workers and
account for more than $21 billion in annual sales.
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