Pep Boys Participates in National Tire Safety Week; Offers Free Air Pressure Checks to Drivers

PHILADELPHIA--April 20, 2005--The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack , the nation's leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, announced that it will partner with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) to promote National Tire Safety Week April 24-30. During this time, Pep Boys will continue to offer drivers free tire air pressure checks and tire safety information.

"Pep Boys is pleased to once again promote National Tire Safety Week in an effort to support consumer education on tire safety," said Pep Boys' Senior Vice President of Service Operations Mark Page. "Although Pep Boys emphasizes tire safety year-round, participating in a week of awareness promotions that highlight the importance of proper pressure, alignment, rotation and tread allows us to remind our customers of our commitment to providing top-quality tire care, safety and maintenance services. We are proud to have certified service experts available in our stores seven days and six nights a week to advise and educate customers about tire safety practices related to the many lines of name brand and house brand tires our service centers carry."

Caring for tires is extremely important and relatively easy. In fact, Pep Boys and the RMA recommend getting in the habit of taking five minutes every month to check your tires, including the spare. Here are some useful guidelines that motorists can follow to play their PART and Be Tire Smart.

Pressure

Underinflation can lead to tire failure. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear and possible loss of vehicle control or accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and still not appear to be flat. The best way to check tire pressure is with a properly working analog or digital tire gauge, available at Pep Boys.

Alignment

A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tires. Have a tire dealer like Pep Boys check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.

Rotation

Regularly rotating your vehicle's tires will help you achieve more uniform wear. Unless your vehicle owner's manual has a specific recommendation, a good guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

Tread

Advanced or unusual wear can reduce the ability of the tire to grip the road. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.

In addition to offering free tire air pressure checks year-round, Pep Boys is one of the leading sellers of replacement tires in the United States and Puerto Rico. Every tire purchase at Pep Boys includes mounting in 59 minutes or less, a manufacturer's warranty against material and workmanship defects, free brake inspection, free shock and strut inspection and tire rotation every 5,000 miles.

About the RMA

The Rubber Manufacturers Association is the national trade association for the rubber products industry. Its members include more than 100 companies that manufacture various rubber products, including tires, hoses, belts, seals, molded goods, and other finished rubber products. RMA members employ over 120,000 workers and account for more than $21 billion in annual sales.

About Pep Boys

Pep Boys has 594 stores and more than 6,000 service bays in 36 states and Puerto Rico. Along with its vehicle repair and maintenance capabilities, the Company also serves the commercial auto parts delivery market and is one of the leading sellers of replacement tires in the United States. Customers can find the nearest location by Googling pepboys.com.