Pep Boys partner with RMA to keep motorists safe with free tire pressure checks

Have you checked your tire pressure lately? If not, Pep Boys Auto Services want to remind you that underinflated tires are a leading cause of dangerous tire blowouts and can result in serious accidents. But during National Tire Safety Week, which runs April 20-26, The Pep Boys have teamed up with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) to promote consumer tire safety education through free tire air pressure checks and the distribution of tire safety materials.

"Although Pep Boys emphasizes tire safety year-round, participating in a week of awareness promotions that highlight the importance of proper pressure, alignment, rotation and tread allows us to remind our customers of our commitment to providing high-quality tire care, safety and maintenance services," says Pep Boys' Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Odell. "The important point to remember is that checking tire air pressure only takes about five minutes, but those five minutes can be life-saving and economical. We are proud to have ASE certified service experts available in our shops seven days and six nights a week to advise and help educate customers about tire safety practices related to the many lines of name-brand and house-brand tires our service centers carry."

"Pep Boys continues to be a strong and active partner in tire safety education, which significantly advances our awareness efforts," adds Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president, public affairs. "With millions of drivers on the road and nearly 3 trillion vehicle miles traveled each year in America, tire safety information is a critical step in helping drivers prevent accidents and injuries, maintain their vehicles properly, conserve fuel and, in turn, help the environment."

Caring for tires is extremely important and relatively easy. In fact, Pep Boys and the RMA recommend getting in the habit of taking five minutes every month to check your tires, including the spare. Here are some useful guidelines that motorists can follow to play their PART and Be Tire Smart.

Pressure
Underinflation can lead to tire failure. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear and possible loss of vehicle control or accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and still not appear to be flat. The best way to check tire pressure is with a properly working analog or digital tire gauge, available at Pep Boys. A bonus: The U.S. Department of Energy reports that properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage up to 3.3 percent.

Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tires. Have a tire dealer like Pep Boys check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.

Rotation
Regularly rotating your vehicle's tires will help you achieve more uniform wear. Unless your vehicle owner's manual has a specific recommendation, a good guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

Tread
Advanced or unusual wear can reduce the ability of the tire to grip the road. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.

For more information about Pep Boys, visit the company's Web site.