Discount Tire - America's Tire Company and Rubber Manufacturers Assoc. Highlight...

Discount Tire - America's Tire Company and Rubber Manufacturers Assoc.
Highlight Proper Tire Care for National Tire Safety Week
Tire maintenance critical to road safety, fuel economy and tire life

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Discount Tire, America largest
independent tire retailer, and the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) have
partnered for the 7th Annual National Tire Safety Week being conducted
April 20-26. The nationwide effort is designed to educate motorists about the
four essential areas of tire maintenance including Pressure, Alignment,
Rotation and Tread.
Improper tire care results in 33,000 injuries and 660 fatalities each year
on U.S. roads. Regular tire maintenance can lead to longer lasting tires,
better fuel economy and safer roads.
Discount Tire is providing free tire safety kits at nearly 700 retail
stores throughout the U.S. as part of National Tire Safety Week, to encourage
motorists to adopt proper tire maintenance habits. Tire safety kits include a
tire air pressure gauge, tread depth gauge and a RMA "Be Tire Smart" brochure
with easy-to-follow tire maintenance tips and a safety checklist for routine
monthly tire inspections. Discount Tire also provides free tire air pressure
and tread depth checks by trained tire technicians at all stores nationwide.
Additionally, Discount Tire is lending the support of NASCAR Busch Series
driver David Ragan, its fulltime driver of the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion
with Roush Fenway Racing. Ragan is featured in a national RMA radio public
service announcement regarding the importance of maintaining proper vehicle
tire inflation pressure. Discount Tire is the primary sponsor of the No. 6
Discount Tire Ford Fusion for the Busch Series with Roush Fenway Racing.
Maintaining tire inflation pressure is one of the most critical things
motorists can do to improve their road safety and get the most from their
tires. Improperly inflated tires lead to decreased steering and braking
control as well as excessive tire wear and fuel consumption. According a
RMA driver survey:

-- 81% of drivers do not know how to properly check their tire inflation
pressure
-- 53% of drivers wrongly believe that the correct inflation pressure is
printed on the tire sidewall
-- 31% of drivers don't know how to tell if their tires are bald
-- 73% of drivers do not check the tire pressure in their spare tire
-- 1-in-5 drivers check their tire pressure each month

The RMA launched National Tire Safety Week in April 2002 as an initiative
of its "Be Tire Smart -- Play Your PART" program. PART stands for Pressure,
Alignment, Rotation and Tread. Discount Tire has been involved in the
initiative since its inception.
About Discount Tire
Discount Tire, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is America's largest
independent tire retailer. Also referred to as America's Tire in Oregon and
some parts of California and Washington, Discount Tire currently operates
nearly 700 stores across the country. At discounttire.com, customers can
research, order and make an appointment for service. For more information
about Discount Tire and America's Tire, visit http://www.discounttire.com or
http://www.tires.com.
(See Top 10 Tire Care Tip Sheet)

Discount Tire / America's Tire Company
Top 10 Tire Care Tips

1. Don't wait until it's too late -- Make it a habit to check your tire
pressure at least once per month and before every long trip. Under
inflated tires cause excess heat build-up that can damage tires and
lead to a failure.

2. Know your pressure point -- The correct tire pressure is found on a
sticker on the driver-side doorpost or in the owner's manual, not on
the tire sidewall -- that's the maximum pressure for the tire.

3. Keep your cool -- To accurately measure your tire pressure, check
tires when they are cold. Wait at least three hours after driving.

4. Take care of your spare -- Check your spare tire each month and keep
it properly inflated so it's ready to go when you need it most.

5. Penny for your thoughts -- A penny can tell you if your tire is bald.
Place a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of
Lincoln's head, it's time for a new tire.

6. Keep yourself in line -- Be aware of potholes that can damage your
tire and also jar your car's alignment.

7. Pick a date and rotate -- Make sure you rotate your tires every 6,000
miles to promote uniform wear and longer tire life.

8. Don't take a spin without a cap -- Driving without your tire valve cap
allows air to slowly leak from the tire and leads to under inflation.

9. Don't lose your balance -- It is important to have your tire balance
checked periodically to avoid irregular wear.

10. Be a weight-watcher -- Overloading your vehicle stresses your tires
and can lead to damage.

Media Contacts:
Joseph Valdez or Kendra States
The Lavidge Company
jvaldez@lavidge.com or kstates@lavidge.com
(480) 998-2600

SOURCE Discount Tire

Joseph Valdez, jvaldez@lavidge.com or Kendra States, both of The Lavidge
Company, +1-480-998-2600, for Discount Tire