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Discount Tire / America's Tire Company and Rubber Manufacturers
Assocation Highlight Proper Tire Care for National Tire Safety
Week. |
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Tire maintenance critical to road safety, fuel economy and tire life |
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Scottsdale, Ariz. - April 24, 2007
Discount Tire, America largest independent tire retailer, and
the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) have partnered for
the 6th Annual National Tire Safety Week being conducted April
22-28. The nationwide effort is designed to educate motorists
about the four essential areas of tire maintenance including
Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. |
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Improper tire care results in 33,000 injuries and 660 fatalities
each year on U.S. roads. Regular tire maintenance can lead to longer
lasting tires, better fuel economy and safer roads. |
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Discount Tire is providing free tire safety kits at more than 650
retail stores throughout the U.S. as part of National Tire Safety
Week, to encourage motorist to adopt proper tire maintenance habits.
Tire safety kits include a tire air pressure gauge, tread depth gauge
and a RMA "Be Tire Smart" brochure with easy-to-follow tire
maintenance tips and a safety checklist for routine monthly tire
inspections. Discount Tire also provides free tire air pressure and
tread depth checks by trained tire technicians at all stores nationwide. |
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Additionally, Discount Tire is lending the support of NASCAR Busch
Series driver David Ragan, its fulltime driver of the No. 6 Discount
Tire Ford Fusion with Roush Fenway Racing. Ragan is featured in a
RMA radio public service announcement regarding the importance of
maintaining proper vehicle tire inflation pressure. Discount Tire
is the primary sponsor of the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion for
the Busch Series with Roush Fenway Racing. |
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Maintaining tire inflation pressure is one of the most critical things
motorists can do to improve their road safety and get the most from
their tires. Improperly inflated tires lead to decreased steering
and braking control as well as excessive tire wear and fuel consumption. |
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According a driver survey conducted by the RMA:
• 81% of drivers do not know how to properly check their tire inflation pressure
• 53% of drivers wrongly believe that the correct inflation pressure is printed on the tire sidewall
• 31% of drivers don't know how to tell if their tires are bald
• 73% of drivers do not check the tire pressure in their spare tire
• Each month, 3-out-of-4 drivers wash their cars while only 1-out-of-5 correctly checks their tire pressure.
• 1-in-5 drivers check their tire pressure each month
The RMA launched National Tire Safety Week in April 2002 as an initiative
of its "Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART" program. PART stands for
Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. Discount Tire has been
involved in the initiative since its inception. |
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About Discount Tire
Discount Tire, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is America's largest
independent tire retailer. Also referred to as America's Tire in
Oregon and some parts of California, Discount Tire currently
operates more than 650 stores across the country. The company
provides sales of tires, wheels and related accessories and
services through mail order, Internet and retail stores. At
tires.com, customers can research, purchase and make an
appointment for service. For more information about Discount
Tire, visit www.tires.com. |
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Discount Tire / America's Tire Company Top 10 Tire Care Tips |
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1. Don't wait until it's too late - Make it a habit to
check your tire pressure at least once per month and
before every long trip. Under inflated tires cause
excess heat build-up that can damage tires and lead
to a failure.
2. Know your pressure point - The correct tire pressure
is found on a sticker on the driver-side doorpost or in
the owner's manual, not on the tire sidewall - that's
the maximum pressure for the tire.
3. Keep your cool - To accurately measure your tire
pressure, check tires when they are cold. Wait at
least three hours after driving.
4. Take care of your spare - Check your spare tire
each month and keep it properly inflated so it's
ready to go when you need it most.
5. Penny for your thoughts - A penny can tell
you if your tire is bald. Place a penny upside down
into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln's
head, it's time for a new tire.
6. Keep yourself in line - Be aware of potholes
that can damage your tire and also jar your car's
alignment.
7. Pick a date and rotate - Make sure you rotate
your tires every 6,000 miles to promote uniform wear and
longer tire life.
8. Don't take a spin without a cap - Driving
without your tire valve cap allows air to slowly
leak from the tire and leads to under inflation.
9. Don't lose your balance - It is important
to have your tire balance checked periodically to
avoid irregular wear.
10. Be a weight-watcher - Overloading your
vehicle stresses your tires and can lead to damage.
Source: Discount Tire / America's Tire Company www.tires.com
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