It’s National Tire Safety Week, and tire companies, dealers, chain stores, the federal government and others have lined up with the RMA to promote proper tire care.
The 10th annual NTSW began June 5 and runs through June 11 
with a wide range of national and local events. Dealers from the Florida Keys to Alaska are holding programs for their customers.
Last week, in the run-up to NTSW, the RMA joined with the AAA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Pirelli Tire North America and Fairfax County, Va., police to demonstrate the hazards posed by under inflated tires. Fairfax police driving instructors first drove vehicles with properly inflated tires and then vehicles with significantly under inflated tires through simple maneuvers to demonstrate how vehicle handling is negatively affected by poor tire maintenance.
According to an RMA survey, millions of U.S. drivers do not know how to properly check tire pressure, and 85% of motorists do not know how to properly inflate tires. Underinflated tires generate heat inside the tire, which can cause damage that leads to failure, and it reduces vehicle fuel economy.
"Ten years ago, NHTSA and AAA helped RMA launch National Tire Safety Week," said Charles Cannon, RMA president and CEO. "Our partnership and efforts continue today because our job is not finished. Too many drivers fail to do one simple task every month that will reduce their safety risk and help our nation conserve valuable natural resources. Checking tire pressure takes just five minutes and it’s worth every second."
Up in Anchorage, Alaska, Johnson’s Tire Service is joining thousands of other tire dealers across the U.S. that will offer free tire safety inspections to promote proper tire safety and maintenance among local drivers.
For Johnson’s Tire, the inspections – inflation pressure, tread depth and alignment – will be offered at all five of its locations in Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla and Soldotna.
“It’s a great way for local drivers to learn about proper tire maintenance, while easily making sure that their tires are ready for all summer driving they will do.” said Vatau Alenepi, general manager of retail operations. “This free tire safety event will help drivers become more aware of the importance of checking their tires.”
Like many tiremakers, Goodyear will be promoting NTSW through its company-owned stores and dealers, and Goodyear outlets will distribute the RMA’s “Be Tire Smart, Play Your PART” consumer booklets, which stress the importance of proper tire care. In addition, goodyear.com will include extensive consumer information on tire care, product selection and more. And the Goodyear blimps will be flashing tire care messages as they fly around the country.
Working with TIA, Michelin North America released an 18-minute truck tire maintenance and safety training video for fleet operators, tire shop managers and maintenance technicians. “Tire Shop Hazard Assessment,” will help tire dealers and fleets comply with various OSHA regulations that are designed to protect technicians from potential safety risks in the workplace. Specifically, this video covers the OSHA regulation for personal protective equipment (PPE), 29 CFR 1910.132, that requires every employer to perform a workplace assessment to determine if any existing hazards require PPE.
“When tires do not get the proper care, handling or maintenance in the shop, it can easily lead to property damage or personal injury,” said Doug Jones, MATT customer engineering support manager. “Michelin and TIA want to remind tire shops of safety procedures, industry requirements and best practices to help ensure the safest possible work environment.”
The fourth in a series produced by TIA and Michelin, the video is available on the Michelin Truck Tires YouTube channel, as well as the Michelin website and the TIA website. The first three videos are also available online.
In honor of the 10th NTSW, Pep Boys is providing motorists with “helpful tips to guarantee that drivers steer clear of unwanted summer mishaps on the road.”
Finally, Sterling, Va.-based TireVan Corp., a full service mobile tire replacement service, launched its NTSW consumer education efforts in Washington, D.C. As part of this campaign, TireVan will set up "Tire Check Pit Stops" at large area employers including: Northrop Grumman Information Systems, George Mason University, Navy Federal Credit Union, Orbital Sciences and MITRE Corp.
Free-of-charge, TireVan technicians will provide tire wear inspection, tire pressure checks and inflation, and educate drivers on the importance of properly maintained tires.
