According to
Hankook’s new Tire Gauge Index survey,
63 percent of the respondents checked their tire
pressure within the last month. While nearly 8 in 10
drivers say they are aware that the change in seasons
affects tire pressure, the tire maker is reminding
motorists that falling temperatures mean falling tire
air pressures, and it’s time to “Air ‘Em UP.”
“The change of seasons is a good time to remember to
check your tires for proper air pressure,” says Henry
D. Kopacz, product marketing specialist. “In fact,
every 10 degree drop in outside temperature can result
in up to a 2 psi drop in tire pressure,” he
reports.
“We want to remind consumers to check their pressure at
least once a month, but especially during this time
when the changing seasons can result in dramatic
temperature shifts in some parts of the country, as
well as slick conditions that can result from wet roads
and falling leaves,” says Kopacz.
While the vast majority believes that maintaining
proper air pressure keeps them safe (80 percent) and
saves money (77 percent), nearly one-third think that
keeping their tires at the correct level is better for
the environment.
“The fact is, properly inflated tires, as opposed to
underinflated, improve a tire’s rolling resistance
performance, reducing energy loss and allowing a
vehicle to use less fuel, which is better for the
environment,” says Kopacz. “It’s encouraging that 31
percent of our respondents know that, but our goal is
to educate more consumers about the environmental
benefits of properly inflated tires.”
More men (36 percent) than women (24 percent) say that
a reason to keep good tire pressure is because it is
better for the environment.
As the survey probed more, data showed that while
drivers understand the importance of checking their
tire pressure when the seasons change, their knowledge
of their vehicle’s ideal tire pressure was not as high.
Just more than half (58 percent) were actually
confident they knew what the ideal tire pressure was
for their vehicle, inching slightly up from 53 percent
when asked earlier in the year.
“With everything else people have going on in their
lives, it is understandable that knowing their ideal tire pressure is not top of mind and can
be confusing,” says Kopacz. “Reading your vehicle’s
owners’ manual is the best place to start. Once known,
it is important to be an active participant in
monitoring and addressing your vehicle’s tire pressure
needs.”
According to the survey, 65 percent of respondents keep
a tire gauge in their glove compartment. While the
majority of drivers polled air up their own tires at a
service station (61 percent), 28 percent opt to have
someone else do it for them. A lesser amount of
motorists (17 percent) have a means on hand at home or
in their vehicle to air up their tires when necessary,
according to Kopacz.
For more information, visit www.hankooktireusa.com.
