Goodyear has issued a series of summer driving tips, giving tire dealers follow-up opportunities to provide additional expert advice to your local media outlets.
The press release urges motorists to take a few minutes to inspect their tires or visit a tire and service outlet for a checkup prior to embarking upon a road trip.
According to brand manager Razvan Bosomoiu, “Underinflated tires increase vehicle fuel consumption, meaning that motorists may get less miles per gallon than with properly inflated tires. In addition, motorists should avoid tires with insufficient tread depth or structural damage.”
The U.S. Department of Energy has reported that every pound per square inch of tire underinflation wastes 4 million gallons of gas per day.
“An underinflated tire doesn’t roll as smoothly or as easily as it was intended, so it uses more energy, robbing the vehicle of fuel efficiency. If motorists understood this, they might realize why tire maintenance is so important,” Bosomoiu says.
Other automotive advice in advance of summer driving includes:
• Keep it filtered: Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, and help protect the engine from impurities.
• Don’t overload: Vehicle overloading can occur when trying to jam many extra items for an extended vacation. Check the owner’s manual for the maximum recommended load details. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
• Get tuned in: Before taking that long trip, visit a trusted automotive outlet and make sure your car is properly tuned. Regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Wear a cap: The gas cap must be tight and undamaged. About 17 percent of the vehicles on American highways have either misused or missing gas caps, causing millions of gallons of gas to vaporize into the atmosphere.
• Be smooth: Aggressive driving wastes gas and can reduce your fuel mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Observe the speed limit!
A number of Goodyear retailers distribute tire care brochures and offer free tire inflation and tread inspections, Bosomoiu points out
He reminds drivers that tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation printed on the door placard or in the owner’s manual – not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall. The inflation pressure of tires should be checked at least monthly and before any long trips.
For more information, visit www.goodyeartires.com.
