For National Tire Safety Week: EnTire Solutions Reminds Drivers That Proper Tire Inflation Saves Fuel

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., April 20 -- In an era when fuel economy and vehicle safety are priorities, EnTire Solutions, LLC -- a joint venture between TRW Automotive and Michelin that develops, markets and sells direct, driver-oriented tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) -- is reminding consumers that they can save gas and enhance safety by keeping their vehicles' tires properly inflated.

In observation of the Rubber Manufacturer Association's (RMA) sixth annual National Tire Safety Week April 22 through April 28, EnTire Solutions is stressing the message that consumers could help save 4 million gallons of gasoline per day and help prevent premature tire wear, if every vehicle in the United States had properly inflated tires.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 27 percent of cars and 33 percent of sport utility vehicles or light trucks on the road have at least one under-inflated tire. EnTire Solutions estimates a national fuel savings of $1.3 billion, as well as $8 million in tire replacement savings (over a 10 year average vehicle life, driving 12,000 miles per year), if all vehicle tires were properly inflated.

TPMS, like those offered by EnTire Solutions, are currently found on many late-model vehicles.

"Although EnTire's TPMS will alert drivers of low tire pressure, drivers should ensure proper inflation by checking their vehicle's tire pressure monthly," said Rich Wolfe, chief executive officer of EnTire Solutions, LLC. "With the correct amount of tire pressure, the consumers' tires will wear longer, help them save on gas and improve vehicle handling."

EnTire's direct TPMS employs a battery-powered pressure sensor mounted on the valve stem inside the wheel. The sensor communicates tire pressure and temperature information to a vehicle-mounted receiver via a radio signal. Two versions of the system exist, a basic and an enhanced system, which not only identifies that a tire is under-inflated, but also indicates which tire.

For more information on how EnTire Solutions' TPMS works, visit www.entire-solution.com.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2007, all new passenger car and light trucks sold in the United States will be equipped with a TPMS that will notify the driver when one or more of the vehicle's tires are 25 percent below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold inflation pressure.

National Tire Safety week is an initiative of the RMA's year-round "Be Tire Smart -- Play Your PART" program. For more information, visit www.rma.org.

EnTire Solutions, LLC, (www.entire-solution.com) headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, is a joint venture between Michelin (www.michelin.com) and TRW Automotive (www.trwauto.com) that develops, markets and sells direct, driver-oriented tire pressure monitoring systems and related tools and services.