Be Car Care Aware – Air Your Spare!

Be Car Care Aware – Air Your Spare Tire!

Everyone understands the basics of car care – from changing your oil to rotating your tires. However, when was the last time you checked the air pressure in your spare tire, or any of your tires for that matter? Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC reminds you to be car care aware and air your spare!

According to a recent study by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), 71 percent of drivers do not check the tire pressure in their spare tire. A survey conducted by the sales engineers at BFNT revealed that of 74 spare tires, only one tire was properly inflated and the average tire pressure was less than 50 percent of that recommended for the spare.

“Typically the spare is the tire you depend on in a pinch, but if you never check the air pressure it may not perform at the crucial moment when you need it most,” said Mario Andretti, legendary racer and national spokesman for Firestone’s driver safety education campaign. “Keeping tires properly inflated also aids in getting the most gas mileage – with fuel prices at all time highs this could be a great cost savings.”

Tires normally lose one psi each month due to air permeation thru the sidewall. It helps to think of a tire as a balloon – after time the air in a balloon will drop due to air leaking through the balloon’s surface. Air will dissipate through the tire’s sidewall in the same way. It is also important to note that with the change in seasons there is often a change in temperature – for every 10 degree (F) drop in ambient temperature a tire will lose one psi. And it’s the air that carries the load, so less air pressure means less load carrying capacity.

How do you check your tire pressure? Typically you can find the correct inflation pressure for your vehicle’s original tires on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, in the glove compartment or in the vehicle owner’s manual. Be certain to check the tire pressure with a good tire gauge when the tire is cold.

A “no-brainer” monthly reminder can be established simply by registering on the Web at www.tiresafety.com. The Web site offers a variety of useful information to help you understand tires and the integral role they play in maximizing your vehicle’s performance.

Don’t take your tires, or your spare, for granted. Check tire inflation often for security, fuel economy and for peace of mind. The savings may be every bit as critical as those you reap when replacing the battery in your smoke detector.

–Courtesty of the Car Care Council