In time for the ninth annual National Tire Safety Week, the Rubber Manufacturers Association released survey results that show 55% of vehicles had at least one under inflated tire and only one in six vehicles had four properly inflated tires.

RMA worked with several tire retailers to collect actual tire pressure measurements from more than 6,300 vehicles in more than 30 cities.

The survey’s best performing cities, those with a higher percentage of vehicles with four properly inflated tires, were Honolulu, Baltimore, Boston, Providence and Charlotte. At the bottom of the list were Dallas/Ft.Worth, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Antonio and Birmingham.

The survey revealed the following  information:

· 17% of vehicles had four properly inflated tires.
· 55% of vehicles had at least one under inflated tire.
· 15% of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 8 psi.
· 20% of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 6 psi.
· 31% of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 4 psi.
 
Compared to a similar survey last year, motorists showed some improvement in tire care habits. This year almost twice as many vehicles had four properly inflated tires as had last year.  

“National Tire Safety Week is the tire industry’s opportunity to focus on consumer education,” said Charles Cannon, RMA president and CEO.  “Our industry’s top priority is safety.”