Checking Your Tire Pressure is as Easy as Pumping Gas

Today the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) launched National Tire Safety Week to remind drivers of the importance of simple tire maintenance.

"Maximizing tire performance and safety depends on regular maintenance," said Daniel Zielinski, RMA Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. "By checking tire pressure monthly during a stop for gas -- or other routine maintenance -- drivers can greatly impact tire life, gas mileage, and passenger safety."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), low tire pressure-related crashes are to blame for 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries every year.

These alarming statistics are a critical reason why RMA is sponsoring the annual National Tire Safety Week, which runs April 20-26, in partnership with CIWMB.

"There is a real need to educate drivers about tire maintenance in order to increase vehicle safety and tire performance, as well as to extend the life of the tires and save money on gas," explains Margo Reid Brown, CIWMB Board Chair. "California currently generates 42 million scrap tires annually which have significant impacts on our environment."

At today's event, motorists at the Chevron service station at 3675 Geary Blvd. (Geary/Arguello) in San Francisco received "report cards" on their tire air pressure and tread depth. Specialists from AAA of Northern California demonstrated how easy it is to check your tire pressure.

In previous research by the CIWMB, consumers indicated awareness of the need to check tire pressure, yet fewer than half reported checking their tire inflation regularly, citing a lack of time to do so. Today's event showed drivers that they can spend 3-5 minutes checking tire air pressure during a routine stop for gas, ensuring vehicle safety and better fuel economy.

According to the California Air Resources Board, tires lose one PSI of tire pressure per month, which eventually decreases vehicle fuel efficiency by more than one-third.

With an estimated 74 percent of vehicles having at least one underinflated tire, and 27 percent having at least one tire averaging 6.8 PSI below recommended proper tire pressure levels, the loss of fuel efficiency is enormous. It is estimated that Californians would save 47.9 million gallons of fuel annually if tires were properly inflated.