Goodyear launches national 'Free Air' campaign to help consumers battle rising fuel costs

To help consumers maximize their fuel economy and also improve their tires' performance and efficiency, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has kicked off its National "Free Air" Campaign. During the campaign, motorists can have their tires — regardless of brand or where they were purchased — inspected for free at any of the Goodyear-owned and participating independent dealer locations across the country.

This new campaign stresses proper tire inflation as a way of saving American drivers more than $1.5 billion this summer alone, and includes seven, easy-to-adopt gas saving tips posted on its Web site as well as a special advertisements, on-site signage, point-of-sale materials and more.

The seven tips posted on Goodyear's site include the following:

- Pressure check: Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Many drivers can improve their gas mileage by more than 3 percent simply by keeping their tires properly inflated. The correct tire inflation pressure is critical for good fuel economy, maximum tire life and proper vehicle handling performance. The recommended pressure number for your vehicle is located on a sticker inside the driver side door or in the owner's manual, not the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire.
- Filter that air: Check that your air filter isn't clogged. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. And it won't just save you money; it will also help protect your engine by keeping harmful impurities out.
- Watch the weight: As you prepare to pack the car for your journeys, remember not to overload your car. Check the owner's manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2 percent. (Source: US Department of Energy)
- Know your oil: Use the grade of motor oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The proper grade of motor oil can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. (Source: US Department of Energy)
- Tuning in: Before taking that long trip, visit a trusted professional and make sure your car is properly tuned. Depending on the kind of repair and how well it is performed, regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent. (Source: US Department of Energy)
- Cap it: Make sure your gas cap is on tight and is not damaged. Approximately 17 percent of the vehicles on U.S. highways have either misused or missing gas caps, causing 147,000,000 gallons of gas per year to vaporize into the atmosphere. (Source: Sept. 2004 Service Tech Magazine)
- Ease up: Avoid quick or "jackrabbit" starts and stops. Aggressive driving wastes gas and can reduce your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Observe the speed limit; gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour.

Goodyear's national "Free Air" Campaign has officially kicked off for the summer at the 750 Goodyear-owned and participating independently owned and operated locations across the country. Goodyear is supporting the ongoing effort with a range of promotions including special advertisements, on-site signage, point-of-sale materials and more.

Goodyear continues to stress that the best way to achieve both tire safety and tire satisfaction is through consumer education. The payoff for consumers is a wealth of information that is available through their local Goodyear retailer or at their keyboard, including:

- A consumer booklet, "The Complete Tire Safety Guide," is available from many Goodyear retailers across the country, and also via the company's Web site. The guide, which teaches consumers about the oft neglected practice of tire maintenance, was recognized with a national automotive communications award from the Car Care Council.
- Goodyear outlets also have distributed the Rubber Manufacturer's Association's "Be Tire Smart, Play Your PART" consumer booklets. That guide stresses the importance of inflation pressure, wheel alignment, tire rotation and visual checks of tire tread.
- On Goodyear's Web site, visitors will find extensive information on tire care, product selection and more. A section called "Know Your Tires" even details how a tire is made. With their lighted message boards, Goodyear's blimps are spreading the tire care message while in flight, urging consumers on the ground to check tire pressure and treadwear.

For more information about Goodyear visit the company's Web site.