For the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s (RMA) National Tire Safety Week, May 29 – June 4, Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) helps drivers prepare their tyres for the busy summer driving season. The company’s consumer, commercial and retail businesses are providing ongoing education and services to engage summer travelers, commercial truckers and daily drivers around the importance of proper tyre care and maintenance.
“At Bridgestone Americas, we’re committed to being a good corporate citizen, and raising awareness for the importance of tire safety is one key way we can help improve the lives of those we serve with our products,” said Gordon Knapp, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas. “This is an ongoing educational effort that our teammates continually support, not only during National Tire Safety Week or the busy summer travel season, but each and every day.”
According to a recent consumer survey commissioned by Bridgestone, tyresare often overlooked by Americans as a safety feature, despite the fact that they are the only part of a vehicle touching the road. The April 2016 survey, conducted online among 2,109 US adults by Harris Poll, found that only 41% of Americans rank tyres as one of the three most important safety features of a vehicle. Drivers also are not checking their tyres for road-readiness as carefully as they should be. While 58% of drivers have checked their tyre pressure in the past three months, far fewer (38%) have checked their tread depth in the same time frame.
Bridgestone recommends that drivers of cars, pickup trucks, crossovers and SUVs implement a three-step safety plan to help ensure their tyres remain in good shape:
- Inflate: Drivers should use a tyre pressure gauge to check tyre pressure at least once each month, as well as before long trips or when carrying a large load. Tyres can lose one psi (pounds per square inch) per month under normal conditions. A lot of drivers depend on their tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to warn them if there is a change in their tyre pressure. TPMS is a great tool, but it doesn’t replace the need for regular, routine tyre pressure checks with a tyre pressure gauge.
- Rotate: Regular tyre rotations also will help prevent irregular and premature wear. Tyres should be rotated and balanced according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations found in the vehicle owner’s manual, or every 5,000 miles.
- Evaluate: Routinely look for signs of tread wear or damage. Drivers should check tread depth to make sure their tyres have enough traction to grip the road. Use a tread depth gauge or the “penny test.” Check by inserting a penny into each tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down. If all of Lincoln’s head (including his hair) is visible, it’s time to shop for a new set of tyres.
Bridgestone, which has a very large commercial tyre business, urges commercial truck drivers and fleet customers also to take this opportunity to educate themselves on proper tyre use and care. Introductions of higher state highway speed limits, as well as the trend of commercial trucks running longer, faster and with increased loads, make proper tyre care imperative. To promote tyre safety, Bridgestone urges commercial truck drivers and fleet owners to:
- Set and maintain proper cold inflation pressures. Cold inflation pressure is the inflation pressure of tyres before they are driven.
- Abide by the tyre’s maximum recommended speed, which may be lower than posted speed limits.
- Select the right tyre for the job, considering the proper tyre size, load-carrying capacity, speed capability and service type.
- Inspect tyres frequently for damage such as cuts, cracks, bulges and penetrations.
Source: Bridgestone Americas