Beat the Heat on the Road; Properly Maintained Tires Less Likely to Overheat, Meaning Lower Risk and Smaller Gasoline Bills

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- If you're planning a family road trip this summer, be sure to take five minutes to check your tire pressure before hitting the road. Underinflated tires combined with hot weather and a fully- loaded vehicle could lead to tire failure.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) wants motorists to "be tire smart" before hitting the road for summertime vacations and follow a simple tire care checklist to help avoid potential problems. Properly inflated tires increase fuel efficiency and make your car safer.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), drivers can improve their gas mileage by about 3.3 percent by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. Additionally, a DOE study found underinflated tires wasted 4 million gallons of gasoline daily -- nearly 1.5 billion gallons annually -- in America. At today's prices, that's over $3 billion dollars a year in additional gasoline costs.

Underinflated tires also generate excessive heat, which can be dangerous. "Heat is the number one enemy of the tire," said Donald B. Shea, President & CEO of RMA. "When tires are too hot, the potential for tire failure increases."

AAA predicts that 34.4 million Americans expect to travel by motor vehicle this July 4th. RMA research found that only 15 percent of American drivers properly inflate their tires, which means that 29.24 million holiday travelers will be driving on improperly inflated tires.

  RMA offers these tire care tips for road trips:

                              Tire Care Tips

  * Pressure -- Check tire pressure every month and before long trips.
    Check tires when cold -- before they're driven and use the recommended
    inflation pressure found on a sticker on the driver's door or glove box.
    Don't use the pressure listed on the tire sidewall, which is the maximum
    pressure for the tire.

  * Alignment -- Is your car pulling to the left or right?  You may have an
    alignment problem. Check it out before your tires wear unevenly.

  * Rotation -- Rotate tires every 6,000-8,000 miles or more if your vehicle
    manufacturer recommends it.  Rotation helps tires wear evenly, which
    helps maximize tire life.

  * Tread -- Bald may be beautiful but not for your tires.  Check tread
    depth by inserting a penny head first into the tread groove. If you can
    see all of Lincoln's head, it's time for a new tire.

  About RMA

Founded in 1915, the Rubber Manufacturers Association is the national trade association of the rubber products industry. Its membership includes more than 100 member companies that manufacture tires and other rubber products. Members include 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. All RMA press releases are available at http://www.betiresmart.org/