Clean cars more likely than correctly inflated tires

Motor, Jun 2003 by Nash, Tom

A study released by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) found that three out of four American drivers wash their vehicle at least once a month, while only one in seven correctly checks tire pressure. RMA thinks the important message of good economy and tire safety might not be reaching consumers. The survey also found the following facts:

* Motorists rank tires as the second most important safety feature in vehicles, after brakes.

* Only 14% of drivers properly check their tire inflation pressures. Properly checking tires, according to RMA, means checking at least once a month before tires have been driven even a mile and inflating them to the vehicle manufacturers recommended pressure, not the pressure listed on the sidewall.

* 45% of drivers mistakenly believe that if they're taking a trip with a fully loaded vehicle, they're better off if their tires are a little underinflated.

* Nearly seven out of 10 drivers don't know how to tell if their tires are bald.

* 71% of drivers do not check the pressure in their spare tire.

* Almost half of drivers (49%) named a tire industry source as the most trustworthy to provide the right information about proper tire care.