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Autumn and Winter Driving - A Reminder for Tire Safety Checks
Cooper Tire Stresses Importance of Preventive Maintenance
FINDLAY, OHIO, NOVEMBER 30, 2009 — Over most of the country, late autumn and early winter driving conditions provide some incredible driving weather and scenery. Prior to backing out of the driveway for the holidays or for a road trip, COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) recommends taking five minutes for a tire safety check to ensure smooth travels.
"Maintaining your tires is an important part of making sure your vehicle runs smoothly," said Chuck Yurkovich, vice president of global technology for Cooper Tire. "There are a number of easy ways to check your tires before leaving for a trip. Keeping an eye on the condition of your tires and knowing which tires to use for cold weather driving can make a big difference in how your vehicle will perform."
While inspecting your tires there are three main items to check in order to start the trip safely:
— Tire Pressure — Check your owner's manual or tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge, door post, glove box door or fuel door for your tires' optimal pressure and adjust your tires' pressures accordingly. A common myth is the tire pressure listed on your tires' sidewall is the optimal pressure — in reality it's the maximum pressure. Ensuring appropriate tire pressure is important, as under-inflation creates excessive stress and may lead to tire failure. It's also important to guard against over-inflation, which can cause uneven wear, plus handling and stopping problems.
— Load Limit — Before you fill the trunk and the roof rack with your luggage, check out the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for loading your vehicle (which includes the weight of the passengers). The vehicle manufacturer's loading recommendation can be found in the owners' manual. Overloading your vehicle creates excessive heat inside your tires. Excessive heat can cause tire failure that could result in vehicle damage and/or serious injury or even death.
— Tire Tread — The tread on your tires must be at least 1/16 of an inch deep. If it isn't at least that deep throughout all parts of the tread, the tire must be replaced. To check tread depth you can perform a simple test using a U.S. penny. Put the edge of the coin into the tread, with Lincoln going in head first. If the top of Lincoln's head is covered by tread, the tire meets minimum industry standards for tread depth. If the top of his head is entirely visible, it's time to replace the tire. While looking at the tread or air pressure, if you note any irregular wear or bulges in the tread or sidewall, or note your tire requires constant addition of air, you should take your vehicle to a tire dealer for a professional inspection before taking your trip.
"Practicing regular tire safety maintenance is a great way to ensure your vehicle and its passengers are safe while maximizing your tires' performance," added Yurkovich. "We recommend these procedures be used throughout the entire year, not just during the holidays. Tires working in optimal condition traditionally provide greater traction for stopping power, handling and help maximize gas mileage."
For more information on tire safety, visit www.coopertire.com and www.rma.org.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com.
Company Contact: Michelle Zeislof, 419-424-4251