Coinciding with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend – the traditional kickoff of summer travel – and June’s National Tire Safety Week, Goodyear has issued a press release to nationwide media outlets stressing the importance of proper tire care.
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The number of people expected to travel more than 50 miles during the holiday respresents an increased over last year’s Memorial Day, and 88 percent of those travelers will reach their destination by car, according to the AAA automotive organization.
Additionally, National Tire Safety Week, held June 3-9, is a period that emphasizes the simple steps drivers can take to ensure their tires are in good working condition. Research reveals that motorists rank tires as the second-most important safety feature in vehicles next to brakes, yet only a third of drivers properly check their tire inflation pressure.
Improper air pressure in tires can lead to a multitude of problems – from uneven and accelerated tire wear, to structural damage in a tire. An underinflated tire also has the potential to affect tire performance, including making a vehicle less fuel-efficient. With temperatures rising and vacation travel commencing, the attention given to the care and maintenance of tires should be heightened.
“Checking tires for proper inflation and tread condition is one of the most critical – and easiest – maintenance procedures for a consumer,” says John Peer, a Goodyear vice president.
“It doesn’t take much time or sophisticated equipment. Drivers can check their tires by themselves, or any of our retail outlets would be happy to provide the service,” he adds.
Goodyear-owned retail outlets and participating independent tire dealers offer a service in which consumers can stop in without an appointment for a free tire check. This includes an inspection of the tread condition and tire inflation, with air added at no charge if the inflation level is down.
According to research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), not only do most drivers ignore their tires, most simply do not know enough about how to care for the tires correctly.
The tire maker recommends that motorists should check tire inflation at least monthly or before a long trip. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner’s manual – not the maximum limit stamped on the tire sidewall.
Among Goodyear’s initiatives during National Tire Safety Week are:
- Outlets will distribute the RMA’s “Be Tire Smart, Play Your PART” consumer booklets. Those guides stress the importance of inflation pressure, wheel alignment, tire rotation and visual checks of tire tread.
- On the company’s website, visitors will find extensive information on tire care, tire selection and other details. The “Personal Tire Care” section includes advice on tire pressure and proper inflation, visual inspections, tire repairs and saving fuel
- With its lighted message boards, the company’s famous blimps continue to spread the tire care message while in flight, urging consumers on the ground to check tire pressure and treadwear.
For more information, visit www.goodyear.com.
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