Fewer than 8 percent of vehicles have four properly inflated tires, according to a Rubber Manufacturers Association sponsored national tire pressure survey. Worse, at least 20 percent of vehicles were found to have at least one tire under inflated by at least 8 pounds per square inch, also referred to as PSI. 

Driving on under-inflated tires can significantly affect fuel economy and safety. The U.S. Department of Energy says that properly-inflated tires can improve fuel economy by 3.3 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association estimates that under-inflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries a year. 

The RMA offers tips that will not only help motorists stay safe, but will also help them save money. Drivers can save 6 cents per gallon at the pump and keep tires rolling longer with simple, monthly maintenance. Regular care helps tires get the most potential wear so they don’t need to be replaced as often. Practicing good driving habits also keeps tires in good condition (avoid fast starts, stops, potholes and curbs). To help keep tires roadworthy, RMA recommends that motorists take five minutes a month to check their tires. 

Be Tire Smart — Play Your PART — Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. These are all key things to check during monthly tire maintenance. 

* Pressure: Check tire pressure monthly with a tire gauge and inflate to vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. 

* Alignment: Misalignment of wheels can cause uneven and rapid tread-wear. 

* Rotation: Rotate tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to help you achieve more uniform wear. 

* Tread: Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. 

Regular tire maintenance of your vehicle can save you money at the pump and keeps you and your family safe on the road. For more information visit RMA’s Web site at www.betiresmart.org. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Tire Care Saves Gas, Gas, Gas
2. Under Pressure? Check Your Tires!
3. Tire Tips to Keep Summer Driving Rolling Along

(ARA) – With vehicles staying on the road longer than ever, the harsh conditions of the daily drive can take their toll over time. Americans spend more than 100 hours a year commuting to and from work according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. As the amount of time a vehicle stays on the road increases, so does the amount of maintenance required to keep it running.

There are ways to increase your car’s longevity. Three of the most important areas to maintain are your engine, your tires and the exterior of your vehicle.

Motor oil is the lifeblood of an engine as it lubricates vital engine parts. With vehicles being built to last longer, the demands placed on motor oil have increased. It is imperative to utilize a durable motor oil that can stand up to the constant stress of everyday driving. Quaker State is a brand that prides itself on its ability to keep an engine performing at its peak while offering a full line-up of products specially formulated to meet the needs of today’s drivers. The entire line-up of Quaker State oils are designed to minimize friction-related wear two times better than industry wear standards.

“While regularly changing engine oil is perhaps the most essential maintenance task drivers can perform,” says Mark Ferner, Quaker State technical specialist and ASE-certified master technician. “Checking wheel alignment, tire air pressure and having regular tune-ups can also contribute to helping keep your can on the road longer.”

A very important, and often neglected, maintenance area on your vehicle is your tires. When temperatures rise, the air inside the tire expands. This can mean you are driving on overinflated tires — ultimately resulting in premature tread wear. Tire tread is crucial during emergency situations; a quarter inch of tread depth could affect your stopping distance by 180 feet. Improper or neglected maintenance of tires and wheels can cause extensive damage and lead to pricey repairs.

While some tips may help keep a vehicle running smoothly, it is also important to protect the exterior of the vehicle. During the winter months, salt, sand and road grime can severely damage the finish of a vehicle. Another concern is more than one-third of car owners use non-automotive products when washing their cars, which can cause considerable damage and lead to costly repairs. Washing and polishing a car with quality cleaners and waxes goes a long way toward protecting the vehicle’s exterior.

Following these tips and performing regular maintenance on a vehicle’s exterior as well as under-the-hood are critical steps in helping to extend the life of any vehicle. For more tips and advice about increasing vehicle longevity visit www.QuakerState.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. One simple step saves gas and makes cars safer
2. Cleaning your car can help extend vehicle life
3. Tire Tips to Keep Summer Driving Rolling Along

When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your tires? Most people have never checked it, says Larry Wolf, an automotive technology program instructor at WyoTech in Fremont, Calif. He explains that most drivers are not aware of how often they need to check their tires. “The need for regular oil changes and annual tune-ups is pretty common knowledge. But consumer knowledge about tire safety unfortunately remains low,” Wolf says.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association found that 29 million drivers believe that tires require no regular maintenance. Wolf stresses that drivers should check their tire pressure regularly, approximately once a month. “Driving around on under-inflated tires or worn tires can have serious consequences on your ability to control your car, especially in bad weather,” he says. Unfortunately, the RMA also found that only 11 percent of drivers correctly check their tire pressure once a month.

“Essentially, under-inflated tires concentrate the weight of the car on the tread under the sidewalls, instead of evenly distributing the car’s weight throughout the tire,” says Wolf. “What that means is that the sidewall is continuously being squished, and becomes very hot, posing additional risks to the car and driver. Eventually, a tire that is significantly under-inflated can blow out from the stress and heat that builds up.”

Currently, a tire under-inflated by 30 percent is the government’s minimum safety standard. If a tire is under-inflated by more than that percentage, it’s considered unsafe to drive.

Over-inflation can be similarly dangerous, according to Steven Fernandez, an automotive technology program instructor at WyoTech. Fernandez cautions that over-inflated tires prevent the car from maximizing tread contact with the road.

He suggests that in addition to a monthly check on tire pressure, you also give your tires a monthly “glance over” to look for other telltale signs of damage. Drivers should look for uneven wear patterns and examine tire sidewalls for cuts or bulging. “Uneven wear patterns could mean you are having alignment problems and may need to realign your steering wheel or replace suspension parts,” Fernandez says. “Bulging or cuts in sidewalls are also potentially dangerous, as they could lead to a tire blowout.”

You should check the tread depth of your tires each month. “There are a number of easy ways to check tire tread, including inexpensive gauges or even just a ruler,” says Fernandez. The legal limit is set at 2/32 inches, but automobile experts universally agree that driving around on anything less than 3/32 inches is unsafe, especially in rainy conditions.

Aquaplaning, or hydroplaning as it is also called, is many drivers’ worst nightmare and it is a big concern during summer travel months. It happens when a car’s tires lose contact with the road due to pockets of water. Fernandez explains that the chance of hydroplaning is much more likely when tire tread is low. “Tire treads are grooves in the tire that help to disperse water and increase traction on the road. When they wear down, they aren’t able to redirect water nearly as effectively.” Too often, when drivers find themselves at the mercy of slippery weather conditions, it’s because their tires are not up to par.

Summer often means long road trips — with the whole family, pets and lots of gear loaded into the vehicle. Drivers should always check their tire pressure before long trips with fully loaded vehicles. “A little tire maintenance now can help ensure a safe vacation down the road,” says Wolf.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Car Maintenance Tips for Summer Driving Conditions
2. New Tire Pressure Monitors Do Not Replace ‘Old’ Tire Gauge
3. Tire Care Saves Gas, Gas, Gas

It’s time to take a drive, which means paying attention to what you’re driving on — which, in the near future, could be tires made from orange oil. This new eco-friendly product is about to hit the marketplace and could change the way Americans view one of the most underappreciated, yet technologically-advanced parts of a car..

“An orange oil tire,” explains Mark Chung of Yokohama Tire Corporation, “mixes rubber with orange oil and helps the environment because they are 80 percent petroleum free.”

Chung says the orange oil used in Yokohama’s dB Super E-spec, the world’s first orange oil passenger tire, comes from a juicing plant in Japan. “The tires use more natural rubber (a renewable resource) and are lighter, which conserves gasoline by reducing rolling resistance up to 20 percent. Low rolling resistance tires improve fuel efficiency by minimizing the energy wasted (as heat) as the tire rolls down the road.”

In non-tech terms, this means fewer trips to gas pump (money-saver) and less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Earth-saver).

The thought of orange oil tires conjures up some fun, interesting notions, but Chung says, “the tires really aren’t orange colored and don’t smell like fruit. However, by using citrus instead of petroleum, it’s one way Yokohama can utilize technology to make better tires for consumers and the environment.”

The tires have been so successful, racers will be burning orange, er, rubber on the race track this season in the 2009 Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama. It’s the first race series in the world where every car on the track – in this case, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars – will be on environmentally-friendly orange oil tires.

Chung was quick to say that orange oil tires are just a part of the solution to help the environment. ‘When it comes to tires, there are many ways consumers can be more eco-friendly…and save some money on gas, too. The real key is keeping your tires properly inflated.”

Chung offers these tire tips:

* Once a month, when the tires are cold — at least 3 to 4 hours after the vehicle has been driven — check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. Be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep dirt out and seal against leakage.

* Tires should be rotated at least every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to scrub, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.

* An overinflated tire changes and increases wear on the center of the tread. A tire is designed to run with the vehicle’s weight spread correctly in the road contact zone.

For additional tire care and safety tips, consumers can go to www.yokohamatire.com, the Rubber Manufacturers Association at www.rma.org and AAA Club at www.aaa.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Green, Gas-saving Secrets of Summer Vacation Driving
2. Know Thy Tires
3. Tire Care Saves Gas, Gas, Gas

New tires, particularly all-season ones, save time and money by going the extra mile. Many consumers like yourself purchase all-season tires because, with tight budgets, the tires need to perform under all wet, dry, hot and cold conditions for the next four to six years. Unlike Ultra High Performance sport or winter tires, you don’t want to spend the money on new tires every spring and fall as the temperatures change.

The informed tire shopper can save a lot of money asking themselves and the salespeople the following questions:

1. How much rain or snow do you drive through annually? Calculate the amount of time driving in hot conditions, including rain, or cold conditions, including ice and snow.

2. What line do you want to drive between price and performance? A less expensive brand of tire, like Kumho Tires, often costs 30 to 50 percent less than top tier brands with only a 1 to 5 percent drop-off in the performance, if any. The price does not mean the tire is cheap. Nanotechnology, tire compounds and tread design even the playing field to your benefit.

All-season tires have an aggressive tread design on the edge of the tires to handle rain and snow, but the middle of the tires are designed to minimize road noise and increase tire life on the vehicles they fit.

Plus, all-season tires maintain a 50 to 70 percent range of elasticity even in the freezing weather of winter, and they last between 40,000 to 60,000 driven miles, or between four and six years for the average drivers.

Kumho produces all-season tires for all vehicles. The company has some tips to help your tires to go the extra mile:

* Maintain tire pressure according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Low air pressure in the tires not only reduces the vehicle’s gas mileage, but also wears out the tire faster.

* Rotate tires every other oil change, or about every six months. Your car’s tires wear differently depending on their position, and rotating them slows the wear, allowing you to use the tires longer.

* Check your alignment. When wheels lean too far in either direction, bald spots will appear much earlier in the tire’s life. Your car’s alignment can be altered every time the wheels hit something on the road like potholes or railroad crossings.

* Investigate your tire’s balance. This means both the weight of the tire and the wheel are compensated for once the tire is mounted. Uneven balance is indicated by a vibration as the tire rotates or irregular tread wear. Leaving the wheel unbalanced causes the tire to lose its durability.

To learn more about all-season tires before purchasing your own, visit www.KumhoTireUSA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Which kind of tires do you need this winter?
2. Tire Care Saves Gas, Gas, Gas
3. Which is the Right ATV Tire for You?

However, those new-fangled gadgets are not a replacement for your old-fashioned tire gauge, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), a group that represents tire manufacturers.

Federal law requires every new 2008 model year vehicle to come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system that will warn a driver when tire pressure drops 25 percent. The Rubber Manufacturers Association, which represents tire manufacturers, says that is no reason to throw away your tire gauge.

“Motorists risk tire damage if they wait to check tires until they see a dashboard warning light after a 25 percent loss of tire pressure,” says Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president. “For many vehicles, a pressure loss of less than 25 percent increases risk. That’s why motorists must check tire pressure every month with a tire gauge.”

An RMA survey indicates that tire pressure monitoring systems may cause drivers to become more complacent about tire care. Two-thirds of drivers reported that they would be “less concerned with routinely maintaining” tire pressure if their vehicle had a monitoring system. The federal government estimates that under inflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.

Additionally, when asked how often they would check tire pressure if their vehicle were equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, an alarming 40 percent of drivers said that they would either “never” manually check tire pressure or check it “only when the warning light comes on.”

“Tire pressure monitoring systems can be effective at detecting an unexpected loss of tire pressure,” Zielinski says. “But it is no substitute for regular tire maintenance with a tire gauge.” Tires can lose one to two pounds-per-square inch (PSI) of pressure each month.

RMA recommends that tire pressure be checked at least once per month and before long trips. Motorists should use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure that is found on a sticker on the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. Never use the pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Also check tires when they are cold or wait at least three hours after driving on them.

For more information, visit www.BeTireSmart.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Under Pressure? Check Your Tires!
2. Measure your tire pressure regularly this winter
3. One simple step saves gas and makes cars safer

Current RAC statistics show 23% of Canadian motorists drive with at least one tire that is under-inflated by 20% or more, resulting in more than 640 million litres of fuel being needlessly consumed. No wonder people are concerned – carbon dioxide spewing from vehicles is the single greatest cause of greenhouse gas emissions.

By measuring your tires’ pressure once a month, and maintaining proper tire inflation, you could save two weeks worth of gas a year, the cost of one or two sets of tires over the lifetime of your vehicle, reduce harmful emissions, and increase the safety of your vehicle.

Proper tire care is simple and easy. Measure tire pressure monthly, including the spare, using a good-quality tire pressure gauge. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. If you’re not sure how to do it, ask someone to help you.

Remember, a change in temperature can mean a change in tire pressure. Check out betiresmart.ca or vehicles.gc.ca for more tips on being tire smart this winter.

Credit:

Related posts:

1. New Tire Pressure Monitors Do Not Replace ‘Old’ Tire Gauge
2. Under Pressure? Check Your Tires!
3. One simple step saves gas and makes cars safer

. Summer tires are designed primarily for dry and some wet driving; they are not for use in snow, ice or other winter or heavy rain conditions. They have a very smooth-looking tread design, with minimal or no sipes. Sipes are small slits in the tread that help improve traction.

. All season tires provide a good balance of quiet, comfort and handling for most Canadian drivers. The tread design has more grooves and sipes than summer tires, providing better wet traction. They can be identified by “M+S” branding on the side of the tire and can therefore be used in moderate snow and slush conditions.

. Winter tires offer a combination of specialized tread designs and compounds providing effective traction in Canada’s difficult winter conditions (i.e. snow, ice, sleet, rain and low road-surface temperatures). At temperatures below 7°C, standard compound tires begin to lose elasticity, resulting in reduced traction. Winter tire compounds retain elasticity to grip at much lower temperatures. Typical winter tread designs have larger grooves and tread blocks that have many more sipes than the typical all season tire. Tires marked with the RAC mountain snowflake symbol molded on the sidewall have been tested to provide a minimum 10 per cent better traction in severe snow conditions. Many winter tires provide 30 to 50 per cent better traction in winter conditions.

Caution – winter tires should be installed in sets of four. Failure to follow this recommendation could result in severe and dangerous handling conditions. Visit betiresmart.ca or vehicles.gc.ca for more tips on tire selection and maintenance.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

1. Important Information to Know When Tire Shopping
2. Preparing for winter 101: Smart car care tips for the cold months ahead
3. Know Thy Tires

Tires can lose 1 to 2 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure each month. When tires are “under pressure” they become more stressed and can get hot under the collar. Well, under the rim, anyway.

Excess stress on people can cause health problems. Excess stress on tires due to low inflation pressure can decrease fuel economy, make tires wear out faster and can affect vehicle safety. Under inflated tires generate heat that over time can cause tire failure.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that under inflated tires contribute to 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.

Unfortunately, 85 percent of American drivers fail to properly check tire pressure, according to a motorist survey by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. On the bright side, promoting healthy tires is simple and only takes five minutes each month. The key prescription: check the air pressure with a tire gauge.

Make sure that you check tires when they are cold — before driving even a mile. This will ensure an accurate reading since tire temperature increases while driving and that causes tire pressure to rise.

Next, use the correct tire pressure for your vehicle. Nearly 45 percent of drivers do not know where to find the correct tire pressure for their car. Hint: don’t look on the tire! The pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure for the tire. Find a label on the driver’s door or check the owner’s manual. Vehicle manufacturers establish the recommended inflation pressure.

Finally, don’t forget to check the spare. Seventy percent of drivers never check the inflation pressure in the spare tire. Getting a flat tire is bad enough. A flat spare tire when you need it most just adds insult to injury.

To learn more about proper tire care and how to Be Tire Smart, visit www.betiresmart.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. New Tire Pressure Monitors Do Not Replace ‘Old’ Tire Gauge
2. Measure your tire pressure regularly this winter
3. One simple step saves gas and makes cars safer

But with gas prices climbing toward $4 a gallon (or more!), folks are concerned about the costs of driving. Can families still afford to pile the kids into the car and ride to summer’s favorite hot spots? Will a kids’ chorus of “are we going?” replace the standard endless chants of “are we there yet?”

Savvy drivers say “no!” They’re constantly seeking ways to increase fuel economy and to squeeze out more miles per tank. Instead of focusing purely on the fuel gauge, though, experts suggest paying more attention to tires, those black, rubbery objects that connect vehicles to the road. Yes, the right rubber on the road can save gas in the tank.

According to Fred Koplin of Yokohama Tire Corporation, manufacturer of everything from ultra-high performance tires for passenger cars and SUVs to tires for buses, trucks and airplanes, “Tires that are under-inflated by just 6 to 7 psi (pounds per square inch) can reduce fuel economy by 2 percent or more … and tread wear life by as much as 10 percent.

“When a tire is under-inflated, the car’s weight rests more on the tire’s shoulders than its center, causing poor fuel economy, uneven wear and a less-than-firm ride, which can significantly reduce driver control.”

Koplin says most people aren’t aware that today’s tires are scientific marvels, holding up under extreme heat and freezing conditions, cruising over pavement, rocks, dirt, water, snow, mud, gravel and all sorts of road hazards. Tires boast advanced tread designs, sidewalls, belts and compounds, and they work so well, they’ve practically become an afterthought in most households.

The Auto Club reports that as many as 86 percent of drivers don’t check their tire inflation properly. However, this percentage is likely to start dropping as gas prices under-inflate consumer pocketbooks and former tire novices learn how to maintain proper pressure levels.

“The tire’s proper inflation level can be found on a placard in the glove box or on the car door or in the owner’s manual,” Koplin says. And while there are about 3,500 sizes and types of tires on the market, he suggests some simple procedures to aid proper tire wear.

* Once a month, when the tires are cold, or at least 3 to 4 hours after the vehicle has been driven, check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. (Normal driving causes tires to heat, raising air pressure. Releasing air when tires are hot may dangerously under-inflate the tires.) And be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep out dirt and seal against leakage.

* Tires should be rotated at least every 5,000 to 8,000 miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to drag, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.

* An over-inflated tire puts less tread on the road and increases wear on the center of the tread. A tire is designed to run with the vehicle’s weight spread evenly across the tire’s width.

* Consumers can go to (www.yokohamatire.com/csunderstand.asp) for additional tire care and safety tips or visit the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Web site at www.rma.org.

“Even though tire technology has advanced as much in the past decade as almost any other facet of automotive engineering, only the discerning consumers understand the high-tech realities of tires,” Koplin says. “However, with escalating fuel prices, the time is fast approaching when drivers are going to focus on simple things like proper tire pressure to maximize tire performance, increase fuel economy and boost tread wear.”

And start heading back down the highway of summer travels.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. One simple step saves gas and makes cars safer
2. New Tire Pressure Monitors Do Not Replace ‘Old’ Tire Gauge
3. Tire Tips to Keep Summer Driving Rolling Along