GOVERNOR RENDELL PROCLAIMS TIRE SAFETY WEEK APRIL 22-28
Indiana, PA (April 23) - In an effort to highlight the importance of driving with properly maintained and inflated tires, Governor Edward G. Rendell proclaimed April 22-28 as Tire Safety Week.
PennDOT, in partnership with the Rubber Manufacturers' Association (RMA), asks motorists to pay attention to tire safety. Tires should be regularly checked for proper air pressure and tread depth. In addition to rotating tires at least every 5,000-8,000 miles (check with your vehicle or tire manufacturer), motorists should also have wheel alignment checked to prevent premature tire wear and help improve gas mileage.
RMA research shows that only 15 percent of drivers properly check their tires. Other research found that:
• 55 percent of drivers wrongly believe that the correct inflation pressure is printed on the tire sidewall. The correct pressure can be found on the door, door pillar, trunk, or vehicle manual.
• 30 percent wrongly think that the best time to check tire pressure is when tires are warm. The right time to check air pressure is when tires are cool and haven't been driven for at least three hours.
• Almost one-third of motorists wrongly believe that there is an advantage to under-inflated tires for a fully loaded vehicle.
• Two-thirds of drivers don't know how to tell if their tires are bald.
• 71 percent of motorists do not check the pressure of their spare tire. Spare tire pressure should be checked on a regular basis.
• 40 percent of drivers do not rotate their tires within the recommended mileage of approximately 8,000 miles.
• Misaligned wheels will cause uneven and/or rapid tread-wear. Alignment should be checked periodically, or when you notice a pulling to one side or a vibration. Vehicles with front-wheel drive and/or with independent rear suspension will need to have all four wheels aligned.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drivers can improve their gas mileage by about 3.3 percent by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure.
Remember to make safety your top priority, slow down, use caution and be sure to have your tires checked regularly. |