Portland Drivers Wasting Gas, Risking Safety

Motorists Encouraged to "Be Tire Smart" During National Tire Safety Week

WASHINGTON, June 8 An alarming amount of Portland motorists continue to ignore a simple step that can save money, save gas and save lives: checking tire pressure.

A tire pressure survey sponsored by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) found that about 58% of Portland surveyed passenger vehicles had at least one under inflated tire. More alarming is that nearly one in four vehicles in Portland had at least one significantly under inflated tire that can compromise safety and waste gas.

RMA is spearheading its eighth annual National Tire Safety Week June 7-13 to help educate motorists about the importance of proper tire care. To drive home the point of Americans' lack of tire smarts, RMA worked with Les Schwab Tire Company to collect actual tire pressure measurements from more than one thousand ninety-nine vehicles.

"Few actions that are so simple and quick to do have such striking benefits," said Charles A. Cannon, RMA president and CEO. "Checking tire pressure each month will put money in consumers' pockets, reduce national fuel consumption, help tires last longer and save lives."

"Checking tire pressure is simple and takes only five minutes," said John Britton, President of Les Schwab. "If Portland motorists are unsure how to properly check their tires, they can come to Les Schwab any time for a free tire pressure check."

Properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent and save $.06 a gallon at the pump, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Approximately 1.2 billion gallons of fuel are wasted each year by U.S. motorists driving on under inflated tires.

Under inflated tires also pose a safety risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that under inflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.

  Among the RMA tire pressure survey in Portland findings include:
  --  Only 5% of vehicles had four properly inflated tires.
  --  58% of vehicles had at least one under inflated tire.
  --  26% of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 8 pounds per
      square inch (psi.)
  --  34% of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 6 psi.
  --  47% of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 4 psi.

Although all new vehicles are now equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems, these systems issue a low pressure warning only after tire pressure drops 25 percent below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure. In many cases, an 8 psi loss of pressure would not trigger a warning light and would cause a loss of fuel economy and could lead to a vehicle safety issue.

To properly check tire pressure, motorists should check once each month; check tires when cold - before the vehicle is driven and; use the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure found on a label located on the driver's door or door post or check the owner's manual.