Tire Pressure Safety Campaign Launched Before the Holidays

New Consumer Education Campaign Focuses on Safety Importance of Tire Pressure

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- As cooler weather approaches and in advance of the holiday driving season, The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is launching a consumer safety campaign on the importance of maintaining proper tire pressure.

The Alliance's new Web site, http://www.checkmytires.com/, is an interactive site designed to test an individual's knowledge of tire pressure and to communicate how temperature, safety and fuel efficiency impact tire pressure. "Cooler fall temperatures are here and the holiday driving season is around the corner. Our goal is to urge the driving public to check their vehicle's tire pressure at least once a month and before going on long driving trips," said Fred Webber, President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "Vehicles are being equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems and we want to educate the driving public about what these new symbols mean in their vehicles and why maintaining proper tire pressure is important."

When a vehicle's tire pressure is under inflated, it can compromise the safety and fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Temperature change is one external factor that can have an impact on a vehicle's tire pressure. Tire pressure is measured by pounds per square inch (PSI) and for every 10-degree change in temperature, a tire can lose about one PSI.

"Maintaining proper tire pressure is something that many people may neglect, but is vital for the safety and fuel efficiency of the vehicle," said National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) Administrator Nicole Nason. "All of us can take simple everyday steps to enhance automobile safety and NHTSA urges everyone to remember to check their tire pressure."

Safety and fuel efficiency are two important reasons to maintain proper tire pressure. Under inflated tires can lead to accidents that involve skidding or loss of control, hydroplaning on wet surfaces and flat tires/tire blowouts. Additionally, fuel efficiency is reduced one percent for every three-PSI under-inflation, so keeping tires properly inflated translates to a free tank of gas every year.

Individuals can log onto the Alliance's new Web site, http://www.checkmytires.com/, to learn what the new Tire Pressure Monitoring Symbols (TPMS) look like in vehicles, check the weather in their hometown, and take an interactive quiz to learn about how temperature changes, safety and fuel efficiency all play a role in maintaining proper tire pressure.

By model year 2008, all new vehicles will be equipped with TPMS. About 45% of 2006 vehicles were equipped with TPMS, and that figure will rise to 70% by September 2007. "The new symbols are not a replacement for regularly checking the tire pressure in your vehicles," Webber added. "A driver can verify the vehicle's proper tire pressure on a label which is located in one of three places in the vehicle: on the driver's door frame, sill or edge." Drivers can learn more about tire pressure by logging onto http://www.checkmytires.com/.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 9 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information, visit http://www.autoalliance.org/.