May 2, 2008

Keep Tires Inflated, Save Gas

With properly maintained tires, the average driver could save as much as two weeks’ worth of gasoline every year, and that’s significant savings with the current levels of fuel prices. According to research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), sponsor of National Tire Safety Week, 85 percent of drivers surveyed do not check tire pressure properly. Two out of three drivers don't know where to find the recommended proper tire inflation pressure for their vehicles. An estimated four out of 10 vehicles on the road have at least one underinflated tire, and those that have four are really in for trouble.

The tire inflation experts at Schrader-Bridgeport International, a maker of tire pressure monitoring systems, urge drivers to check tire pressure with a gauge at least once per month and before any long trip. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations printed on the driver's side doorframe or in the owner's manual, not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall. To obtain the proper reading, tires should be checked when they are cold and haven't been driven for at least three hours.

The U.S. Energy Department estimates that every pound per square inch of tire underinflation wastes four million gallons of gas per day in the U.S. Tires that are underinflated by five to seven pounds per square inch can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent -- or two to three miles per gallon -- while reducing tread life as much as 15 percent.

In addition to good fuel economy, proper tire inflation is critical for safety, maximum tire life and proper vehicle handling. Underinflation increases the rolling resistance of tires, increasing fuel consumption and subjecting tires to excess stress and heat -- prime contributors to tire failure, including blowouts at high speed. Underinflated tires also wear out more quickly. The RMA also points out that vehicles equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems can help motorists detect loss of tire pressure, since federal regulations require such systems to warn drivers when tires are 25 percent underinflated. However, this warning may be too late to prevent damage. As Schrader-Bridgeport experts say, tire pressure monitoring units are not a replacement for monthly tire pressure checks with a gauge.