Tire Safety Web Site Launched by Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.

    PHOENIX, Ariz.--Feb. 7, 2001--You have mail. And it's an important piece of mail that can help you save money and help you drive more safely.
    Bridgestone/Firestone is now providing a free e-mail service to remind motorists when they should check the inflation pressure in their tires. The service is just one component of the company's new website, TireSafety.com , which provides a wealth of information focusing on tires and safety.
    "Proper tire inflation is one of the most important elements of vehicle maintenance, yet checking tire pressure is one area of vehicle care that is often overlooked," says Shu Ishibashi, Executive Vice President of Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and President of the company's U.S. Tire Group. "The air pressure in your tires affects rolling resistance and fuel efficiency, tread wear and traction. Perhaps more importantly, it also affects heat build-up, which can lead to deterioration, pre-mature wear and failure of a tire. Improper tire inflation is incredibly easy and simple to solve, but many of us just forget to check our tires regularly. Hopefully this free service will change that for many cost- and safety-conscious drivers."
    Sign-up for the service may be done quickly by visiting the new TireSafety.com website. While there, drivers can peruse a wide array of information pertaining to tires and tire safety. Michael Fluck, E-Business & Internet Manager for Bridgesone/Firestone, Inc., says the site is "very user friendly and filled with information to help drivers make the most of their tires."
    "Many cars and light trucks manufactured today have much longer intervals between maintenance checks than their predecessors of just a few years ago," Fluck said. "Consequently, tire inflation levels may not be checked often enough. Considering tires can lose one pound of air pressure or more each month, it's extremely important to check your tire inflation pressure often. An e-mail reminder that it's time to do so may reinforce the importance of doing this check."
    Fluck says Bridgestone/Firestone plans to make TireSafety.com "the most comprehensive tire safety site on the Internet."
    "Whether you're a serious gearhead with a passion for performance or a casual driver with considerably less interest in all things automotive, TireSafety.com will provide the information you need," Fluck says. "It will be a resource of useful information which we hope will contribute to improved highway safety and save consumers dollars in both fuel and tire costs."
    Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone/Firestone develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, and associate and private brand tires. The company also produces Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles.