Save Fuel, Money and Lives by Checking Car Tire Pressures

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, June 5 – Checking your car’s tire pressures regularly can save money, save gas and save lives, according to AAA Oklahoma.

“Keeping your tires at the recommended pressure can save 6 cents per gallon and improve your fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “These numbers come from the U.S. Department of Energy. They say about 1.2 billion gallons of fuel are wasted each year nationwide by motorists driving on under-inflated tires. It’s amazing that something so simple and easy to do like checking your tires can have that kind of impact.”

In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that under-inflated tires contribute to more than 650 fatalities and 33,000 injuries annually.
National Tire Safety Week starts June 7 and to celebrate, AAA Oklahoma is making a handy tire tread depth check card available free to Oklahoma motorists. It allows you to gauge the safety margin of your tires and offers tire maintenance tips.

For a free card, stop by AAA offices located at 3625 NW 39th Street (NW 39th and Portland) in Oklahoma City or 2121 E. 15th St., in Tulsa. You may also request a card by calling (405) 290-7100 or emailing chuck.mai@aaaok.org, subject line: free tire card.

A recent survey conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, sponsor of the National Tire Safety Week, shows that of more than 4,200 vehicles inspected recently across the U.S., only nine percent had four properly inflated tires. Forty-nine percent had at least one under-inflated tire and 20 percent had at least one tire under-inflated by a significant amount, eight pounds or more per square inch (psi).
AAA reminds motorists to check tire pressures twice monthly:

• Inflate tires to the pressure recommended in your vehicle owner’s manual. These numbers may also be found on a decal on the driver’s-side door jamb or in the glove compartment. Do not inflate to the pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.
• Check pressures when tires are cold
• Reset the tire pressure gauge to zero.
• Apply the gauge firmly to the valve stem. Air leaks can give false readings.
• Don’t forget the spare tire.
• Rotating your tires will allow them to wear more evenly, prolonging their life. Most auto technicians say we should rotate our tires every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, based on our driving habits and road surface conditions, but check and follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual.

Today’s radial tires can be under-inflated but not look under-inflated. Don’t rely
on visual inspections – invest $5 in a tire pressure gauge and check them yourself.