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Show Travelers get more vacation miles by checking tires, safety group says Vacation-lxund motorists taking advantage of lower gasoline prices this summer, can increase their savings by keeping tire inflation at the proper level, advises the Tire Industry Safety Council. "By checking and adjusting the air pressure in your tires on a monthly basis and before a long road trip you can make your driving safer and place less strain on your gasoline budget," said Council Chairman Donald G. Brotzman. Brotzman noted that tires inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations can improve fuel economy by up to three percent compared to tires N whose pressure has been allowed to drop to low levels. "Saving three percent on your annual gasoline bill is something worth doing, especially when it doesn't cost anything," Brotzman declared. "For every 1 ,000 miles you travel on vacation and throughout the year, you can gain up to 30 extra miles on the same amount of fuel by keeping your tires properly inflated," he said. He pointed out that correct tire inflation also allows you to obtain the optimum amount of wear from your tires. Driving on bald or worn-out tires, Brotzman said, is not only hazardous but against the law in many states. "Tires with less than one-sixteenth one-sixteenth inch of tread design showing are dangerous and should be replaced," he said. When you've reached that dancer noint. wear bars will begin to show as narrow hands of smooth ruhlxT across the treat at intervals around the tire. When you check the air pressure make sure the tires are "cold" or have been driven less than a mile. Pressures typically rise three or four pounds per square inch when the tire is "hot." Brotzman listed the following tips for summer driving: . -Ijook out for "summer ice." Sudden showers mix with oil and grime on the road causing a light film, and can result in skidding. Slow down and drive according to prevailing conditions. -Don't overload. Too much weight can severely damage tires as well as cause damage to springs and shock absorbers. The load which a tire will safely carry depends on its size, load range and its inflation pressure. -Check tire inflation pressure with your own hand guage. Many service station towers and some hand guages are inaccurate due to exposure and abuse. Refer to the tire information sticker attached to the vehicle for the correct inflation pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. . -Check alignment. If your wheels are out of alignment, tire life may be drastically shortened. For further information, a free copy of 'The New Consumer Tire Guide," may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to: New Tire Guide, Tire Industry Safety Council, Box 1801, Washington, D C. 2001 3. |
