Underinflated Tires Pose Serious Risk

    AURORA, Ill., Sept. 4 According to the AAA-Chicago Motor
Club, not only will underinflated tires reduce the performance of a vehicle's
handling and decrease its fuel efficiency, they also can pose a serious safety
hazard.  Tires with too little air can experience failure, tread separation
and dangerous blowouts.
    
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that
more than 70 deaths per year due to crashes caused by an underinflated tire
could be avoided if motorists would carefully monitor their vehicle's tire
pressure on a regular basis.
    
NHTSA also found that 27 percent of cars and 32 percent of vans, pickups
and sport utility vehicles had at least one tire that was underinflated.
Eight percent of light trucks and 3 percent of cars had all four tires
underinflated.
    
"Driving on an underinflated tire can cause the rim of the wheel to rip
through the tire thereby creating a dangerous situation," said Mark Bruno,
AAA-CMC spokesman.
    
AAA-CMC suggests that motorists continually check their vehicle's tires
for uneven wear patterns, and urge them to have a certified automotive
mechanic inspect for bent wheels or sprung axle housings.  In addition,
motorists should consult their vehicle owner's manual for the proper air
pressure level before inflating the tires.


    The AAA-Chicago Motor Club is a not-for-profit, tax paying membership
organization serving more than 800,000 members and the general public in
Illinois and Northern Indiana.  The AAA-Chicago Motor Club provides
automotive, insurance, travel and financial services, and is a member of The
Auto Club Group.
    
Please visit our web site at http://www.aaa.com .