Goodyear Has Tire Advice for Holiday Travelers
AKRON, Ohio, May 26, 2005 -- High gas prices notwithstanding, Americans love to travel, and the nation's most well-known automotive travel authority predicts a record number of drivers during this Memorial Day holiday weekend.
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And the best-known American tire company predicts that many of those travelers will simply jump in their vehicles and drive, ignorant of the condition of the only part of their cars that comes in contact with the road -- the tires.
Officials from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company urge motorists to take a few minutes to inspect their tires, or to visit a local tire and service outlet for a check-up. This advice comes at the outset of the holiday weekend in which AAA (American Automobile Association) estimates that record numbers of Americans -- 37.2 million -- will travel 50 miles or more from home. This represents a 2.2 percent increase from last year.
AAA says 84 percent of those holiday travelers are expected to go by motor vehicle. They'll likely pay considerably more this year in fuel costs for their vehicles, too. Gas prices are averaging about 10 cents per gallon more this year, as compared to the Memorial Day weekend of 2004.
According to Goodyear, that is even more incentive to check tire condition and air pressure before heading off on any vacation journeys.
Underinflated tires can increase fuel consumption, costing motorists extra miles per gallon. On the safety side, motorists should avoid severely under- or overinflated tires, or those with insufficient tread depth or structural damage.
Many Goodyear retailers distribute tire care brochures, and offer free tire inflation and tread inspections; and easy-to-find maintenance advice is offered at http://www.goodyeartires.com/ .
Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation printed on a vehicle's door placard or in the owner's manual, not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall. According to Goodyear, the inflation pressure of tires normally should be checked monthly or before any long trips.
Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.
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