Get into the Habit of Checking Your Vehicle's Tires; 70% of U.S. Drivers Don't Know How to Tell if Tires are Bald

    LOS ANGELES--April 29, 2003--According to a recent automotive study, 70 percent of U.S. drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald.
    That's bad news, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The need for proper tire maintenance is so important that National Tire Safety Week, April 28-May 3, was launched to help drivers understand whether their tires are in good working condition.
    "Not being aware of the condition of the tires on your vehicle is dangerous," said Dave Skaien, the Auto Club's automotive services specialist. "Sufficient tread depth and proper tire inflation is critical for safe driving in any condition. Eighty-six percent of drivers don't check their tire inflation pressure properly."
    Many states have minimum tread depth laws. Don't drive on minimum tire tread before replacing your tires, said Skaien. Passenger cars shouldn't operate on tires below 2/32-inch tread depth and ski-resort bound motorists should operate their vehicles' snow tires on a minimum of 6/32-inch tread depth.
    How do you know if your vehicle's tires need replacing? A simple test is using a coin as a tire tread depth gauge. As tires wear, place an American penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln's head is covered by tread, then more than 2/32-inch tread depth remains.
    On snow tires, if the top of the Lincoln Memorial is covered, then more than 6/32-inch tread depth is left. (Be sure not to place the coin on top of the wear bar, a thick elevated strip of rubber running across the base of tire grooves.)
    As tires wear, the tread's ability to perform in rain and snow is diminished. With 2/32-inch of remaining tread depth, resistance to hydroplaning at highway speeds is significantly reduced.
    Maintaining your vehicle's tires is also crucial to fuel economy, said Skaien. Every other fill-up, walk around the vehicle and check tires for uneven or excessive tread wear, as well as proper inflation.
    Refer to the vehicle's doorjamb or glove box for original equipment specifications or the manufacturer of the replacement tire for proper tire pressure inflation, he added. The Auto Club also recommends a tire rotation every 7,500 miles, said Skaien.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has served members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance products and services, AAA Travel Agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, and highway and transportation safety programs.
    Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.