Don’t Let Tire Trouble Ruin Your Summer Travel Plans

26 Mayo 2016, 00:00 AM CDT

National Tire Safety Week Runs May 29 – June 4

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#NTSW–With graduations, vacation plans and summer festivities in sight, the
thought of proper tire maintenance is likely not at the forefront of
many drivers’ minds. To help raise awareness of the importance of safe
tires during National Tire Safety Week, May 29 – June 4, the California
Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is encouraging all drivers to ensure that
their vehicle’s tires meet safe driving standards before hitting the
road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
an estimated 11,000 tire-related crashes occur yearly, resulting in
nearly 200 fatalities.

“Proper car maintenance is an important part of traveling safely.
National Tire Safety Week can be your cue to make checking your tires a
regular habit,” said Rhonda Craft, Director of the California Office of
Traffic Safety. “Performing regular tire inspections and taking extra
precautions before long drives is one of the simplest ways drivers can
protect themselves and the ones they love.”

Unfortunately, fewer than 20 percent of consumers properly check and
inflate their tires, often resulting in at least one tire that is
significantly underinflated according to NHTSA data. This can leave
drivers at increased risk for flat tires, blowouts or loss of tread –
all of which are contributing factors to crashes. Additionally, poor
tire maintenance can result in greater fuel consumption and shortened
tire life.

The California Office of Traffic Safety reminds all drivers to keep the
following tips in mind to ensure proper tire care – both during National
Tire Safety Week and throughout the year:

Check your tire pressure regularly – at least once per month –
according to your car manufacturer’s recommendations for pressure
levels. Remember to check the spare, and take extra care before long
drives.
Inspect your tire tread. Ensure that tread grooves are free of foreign
objects, and lookout for built-in tread wear indicators, or “wear
bars,” to appear. This means the tread is worn down to one-sixteenth
of an inch and needs to be replaced.
Perform regular tire rotations if recommended by the manufacturer,
usually every 5,000-8,000 miles. Some vehicles do not require tire
rotations, so be sure to refer to your owner’s manual for guidance.
Avoid overloading your vehicle to prevent excessive heat inside your
tires. Passengers, cargo and roof racks all contribute to the vehicle
weight. Refer to your owner’s manual for the maximum recommended load
for the vehicle.
Lookout for potholes or other objects on the road, and slow down if
you are unable to avoid them.
Take extra care near curbs, especially when parking.

For a free brochure, go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
or call 1-888-327-4236. For additional tire safety information, visit www.safercar.gov.
To learn more about other OTS efforts, visit www.ots.ca.gov,
facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS
and twitter.com/OTS_CA.

Contacts

California Office of Traffic Safety
Chris Cochran, 916-509-3063
chris.cochran@ots.ca.gov