Hankook Tire Gauge Index Reveals How Travelers Are Preparing for Summer Road Trips

WAYNE, N.J., June 29, 2011; Jam packed with beach trips, visits to national parks and family reunions, summer is one of the busiest seasons for family road trips. In a survey conducted last week by Hankook Tire America Corp., 70 percent of Americans plan to take a road trip this summer, with 29 percent hitting the roads this weekend for the 4th of July holiday alone. The average road tripper will log 725 miles on their tires and while 7 in 10 Americans are at least somewhat confident in how to properly maintain their tires, 22 percent are not confident they could change a flat tire if they had to.

The first ever Hankook Tire Gauge Index -- a survey of 1,001 Americans conducted on the subject of proper tire maintenance -- shows that less than 50 percent of drivers planning road trips are very confidentthey know what the proper tread depth is on their tires and how to check for it. A little more than that (53%) are very confident they know the proper tire pressure on their vehicle and how to check it. And yet Americans say they're getting prepared -- 71 percent claim they have checked their air pressure in the last month, while 63 percent say they have checked their tire tread depth.

"Our Tire Gauge Index reinforces proper tire maintenance for summer road trippers," said Henry Kopacz, Hankook Tire America's tire expert. "Our research shows more than three quarters (78%) of summer travel will be done with children under 18. With some basic tire maintenance tips and tricks, consumers can ensure their families' safety, the safety of others on the road, and save some money in the process."

Hankook Tire Expert's Top Tips for a Safe Summer Travel

Air 'Em Up: Check Your Tire Pressure -- Hankook recommends drivers check tire pressure at least once a month to ensure proper inflation. Under inflated tires wear out faster and waste fuel, squandering energy, gas and money.

Save Some Cash -- At the pump, consumers could save $0.11 per gallon with properly inflated tires. That means keeping more money in their wallets to spend on fun road trip activities.

Check Your Tread -- With a worn down tread, rolling resistance increases, using more energy and wasting gas. Tires with poor tread also build up excessive heat, decreasing the tire's traction and performance and putting passengers at risk. To check tread, travelers can take the simple quarter test – place a quarter, head down into the tread of the tire. If Washington's entire head is showing, your tread may be too low.

Don't Over Inflate -- When tires are over inflated, they are more susceptible to bruises and road hazards. Properly inflated tires are safer, better for vehicle suspension, and can lower total maintenance costs.

Rollin' Low: Choose the Right Tire -- Low rolling resistance tires, such as the Hankook Optimo H426 can deliver fuel savings by minimizing wasted energy as a tire rolls, thereby improving fuel efficiency and saving consumers money.

The Hankook Tire Gauge Index survey of 1,001 Americans was conducted on June 21 - 22 by Vision Critical, on behalf of Hankook Tire America Corp. Additional findings from the survey include:

• Westerners are most likely to travel for the 4th of July holiday (35 percent)
• Northeasterners are planning shorter trips (summer average of 525.8 miles)
• Gender may play a role in tire knowledge, as 72 percent of men are very sure they could change a tire, while only 35 percent of females are confident they can perform the task.

About Hankook Tire America Corp.

Hankook Tire America Corp. is a growing leader in the U.S. tire market, leveraging investments in technology, manufacturing and marketing to deliver high quality, reliable products that are better for consumers and the environment. Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. markets and distributes a complete line of high performance and ultra-high performance passenger tires, light truck, SUV tires, as well as medium truck and bus tires to more than 400 independent dealers through 3000+ retail sales locations in the United States.

SOURCE Hankook Tire America Corp.