As discussed on the show, tire safety, tire care, tire maintenance are critcal for driving. Did You Know:
- 11,000 tire-related crashes happen each year in the U.S.
- 738 people died in 2017 in tire-related crashes in the U.S.
- 1 in 4 cars have at least one tire that is significantly underinflated.
- Tires lose about 1 psi (pound per square inch) of pressure each month.
- Keeping your tires properly inflated can save you up to $0.11/gallon.
- You should check your tire pressure every couple of weeks with a good gauge (read manual on how to use it) and do a walk-around inspection of your tires each day.
MotorMouthRadio on Tire Pressure Gauges
Wiki-How Article on How to Check Air Pressure in Tires
- Underinflated tires are visually difficult to detect.
- The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle (as specified in the owner's manual and the tire placard for the vehicle (typically, on the driver side door jamb) are both based on cold inflation pressure.
- Tire pressure should be checked in the morning before the tire has been run, before the ambient temperature rises during the day, and before the tire is exposed to direct sunlight.
- A good estimate to use when comparing tire pressure to air temperature is for every 10 degrees F, tire pressure will adjust by 1 psi. For example, if the outside air temperature increases 10 degrees, the tire pressure will increase by 1 psi. Conversely, if the air temperature falls 10 degrees, the tire pressure will decrease by 1 psi.
- Most vehicles should have a tire rotation done every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Tire rotation pattern diagrams should be in the vehicle's owner's manual. Use jack stands when rotating tires yourself.
- Tires have recalls too.
- Understanding the tire labels for your passenger vehicle or light truck is important for maintaining and buying new tires. Click on the image for the NHTSA Tire Page.
- The word "tire" came from shortening the word "attire" from the idea that a wheel with a tire is a dressed wheel.
Life as Tire Video from NHTSA
Automotive Techs: View this video on TPMS