Holiday Travel is Time for Giving 'Tire Thanks'

AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2003 -- With 31.1 million motorists expected on the roads this Thanksgiving, American drivers should be thankful for the "engineering marvels" that help them reach their destinations safely.

During the summer, it is possible that many motorists ran their tires at low air pressures, engineers at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company say. Before heading to various homes for the holiday, motorists should check their tires.

"You'll be thankful that you did," Bill Egan, the tiremaker's chief engineer of advanced product design, said.

Goodyear market research has shown that nearly a third of U.S. drivers say they rarely check their tires. Almost 8 percent say they never do.

"It's a significant concern," Egan said. "These great marvels of engineering and technology are taken for granted for most of the year. But at least at Thanksgiving, I'd like to see tires get their due."

Recent 20-plus-percent drops in gasoline prices could fuel heavier than usual holiday auto travel. An October AAA travel survey shows that a 25-cent decline in gas prices would encourage 60 percent of Americans to increase their auto vacation plans.

AAA estimates that 86 percent of 36 million Americans who will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving will drive. Auto travel is up 2.5 percent from last year.

Even in cold temperatures, running tires under-inflated generates excessive heat; heat-related stresses can ultimately damage tire components, Egan said.

Goodyear recommends that motorists check tire inflation pressure monthly and before their Thanksgiving trip with a reliable pressure gauge. Look for the proper inflation number on a placard on the vehicle's doorjamb or in the glove compartment.

According to a survey by the State Attorneys General and Offices of Consumer Protection, 96 percent of drivers consider properly inflated tires to be important to car safety, but 60 percent do not know they should check their tire pressure at least once a month.

Also of concern is that almost half are unable to identify where to find the correct inflation pressure for their vehicle.

Check inflation pressures only when the tires are "cold," when they sit still for an hour or more, Egan said. The recommended cold inflation pressure is specified at 70 degrees (F). Tire inflation pressures naturally decrease 1 pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outdoor temperatures.

A pressure reading after the tires have been running will be higher, due to heat buildup. These higher readings are normal, Egan said, and air should not be removed to reduce pressure or the tires will be under-inflated when they cool.

Goodyear recommends increasing recommended inflation pressures by 4 psi for interstate driving or when loaded with luggage. These pressures should never exceed the maximum molded on the tire sidewalls.

Overloading a vehicle can have equally damaging effects as tire under- inflation, Egan said. Follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for maximum passenger and luggage capacity.

Although low inflation and the heat generated inside a tire is its biggest enemy, tire checks should include an examination for sidewall damage or tread punctures. Moving your hand across the tire tread can identify alignment- related wear patterns.

Goodyear also recommends tire rotation every 6,000 miles, unless specified otherwise by the vehicle manufacturer.

Tire care actually is less strenuous than washing a car, and yet the tiremaker's market research indicated that 33.5 percent of Americans wash their cars at home or at a carwash at least once a week - about the same numbers who say they rarely check their tires.

"Spending a few minutes with your tires may mean the difference between enjoying time with family or spending Thanksgiving stranded along a road," Egan said. "You don't want to be the turkey who didn't plan for the trip."

Thanks to its 85 tire, engineered rubber products and chemical manufacturing facilities in 28 countries - as well as global-leading market share, Goodyear is the world's largest tire company.