With gasoline prices –and temperatures– on the rise, experts are reminding Iowa motorists to look down to where their vehicles meet the road for safety and savings. According to Dan Zielinski, spokesman for the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association, proper tire pressure can help us in a host of different ways.
Zielinski says properly inflated tires will bring several benefits like, optimizing a vehicle’s safety, maximizing fuel efficiency and helping the tires last longer. He says Iowans should check their tire pressure before heading out, especially on long hauls, as heat produced by road travel can change the pressure inside of the tire. With gas prices across Iowa continuing to climb, Zielinski says properly inflated tires can mean more money in your pocket.
He says a properly inflated tire can improve fuel economy by around three-and-a-half percent, which translates to around ten-cents per gallon, perhaps 200-dollars a year in savings. Many motorists look to the tire for proper inflation amounts, but Zielinski says that’s not where the best information is located. Zielinski says to look to the inside the door jam or the owner’s manual for the proper inflation rates. For those motorists who choose to "upgrade" or change the tire size on their vehicle, Zielinski says there are some other things to keep in mind.
Changing the tire size means you need to consult with the dealer to determine the proper amount of pressure, and even a new sticker label to put next to the original one. Zielinski says being mindful of the tread on a tire is important to motorists’ safety, too. He says the easiest way to check the tread is turn a penny upside down and place it in the tread of a tire. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tires need changed. For more information on tire safety, visit www.betiresmart.org .