Tire pressure clinics slated to promote vehicle safety

A recent nationwide survey shows that U.S. drivers are less attentive to their tires than they were a year ago. Just over 50 percent of drivers say they have checked their tire pressure within the past month compared to 70 percent last year at a time when fuel prices peaked.

Working with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Wal-Mart is encouraging all of their Tire and Lube Express locations to offer a lane dedicated to tire pressure checks on April 21-22.

"We are grateful to Goodyear and Wal-Mart for partnering with us on this project to promote tire care and maintenance to motorists," said Donald B. Shea, RMA president and CEO.

The activity coincides with the start of National Tire Safety Week (April 22-28), an initiative of RMA's "Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART" program to educate motorists about the importance of proper tire care and promote a safer driving experience. PART stands for pressure, alignment, rotation and tread, the four key elements of tire care.

Additionally, RMA, Goodyear and Wal-Mart are cosponsoring five free, tire pressure clinics at Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express locations during the week of April 16. The clinics will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 16; Atlanta and Jacksonville, Fla. on April 17; Houston on April 18 and Dallas on April 19.

Motorists who stop by the five RMA-Goodyear-Wal-Mart tire clinics during the week of April 16 will receive a free pressure check, information about tire maintenance, and a free tire gauge. RMA advocates that drivers take five minutes each month to check their vehicle's tire pressure.

"Low tire pressure is a safety concern," said Shea. "Our most recent survey suggests that when gas prices began to drop last fall, so did drivers' attention to their tires. Low tire pressure-related crashes are to blame for 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries every year. Motorists need to understand that while proper tire pressure will save them a couple of dollars at the pump, it will also help keep our roads safer."

The Be Tire Smart program is funded by RMA's tire manufacturer members: Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., Continental Tire North America, Inc., Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Michelin North America, Pirelli North America, Inc., Toyo Tire North America and Yokohama Tire Corporation. For more information, visit http://www.betiresmart.org/.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association is the national trade association for the rubber products industry. Its members include more than 80 companies that manufacture various rubber products, including tires, hoses, belts, seals, molded goods, and other finished rubber products. RMA members employ more than 120,000 workers and account for more than $21 billion in annual sales.