USTMA Kicks off National Tire Safety Week as Drivers Plan to Take Summer Road Trips

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) today kicked off its annual consumer tire safety awareness campaign, National Tire Safety Week. The campaign, running through July 4, 2021 and highlighting the theme: “Do Your P.A.R.T., Know Your Roll,” is designed to educate consumers about the importance of proper tire care and maintenance. The acronym P.A.R.T. is used to help drivers remember to check their tires’ Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, and Tread. USTMA also released key findings of a recent survey, in partnership with Discount Tire and Ipsos, showing drivers know the basics, but need more knowledge about tire safety, specifically pressure, tread, and rotation.

Tire safety essentials are especially important this year as significant numbers of motorists are back in their cars embarking on summer road trips for the first time since the pandemic began. While it's predicted that travel will increase significantly this summer – 73 percent of drivers indicate they plan to take a road trip this summer alone – many have reported neglecting tire maintenance. In fact, more than half of Americans plan to travel only by car this summer to reach their vacation destinations. And 70 percent of drivers across the U.S. reported not checking their tire pressure in the 30 days prior, despite professional recommendations to do so at least once a month.

“The pandemic brought fundamental changes to American life, including our ability to travel to be with friends and family. As growing numbers of Americans are vaccinated and eager to take that long summer road trip again this year, USTMA’s members and partners are reemphasizing the importance of tire safety,” said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of USTMA. “During National Tire Safety Week 2021 we are reminding drivers to check their tires and perform simple but important maintenance practices before getting behind the wheel.”

The USTMA/Discount Tire/Ipsos survey of 1,431 American drivers ages 18 and older revealed the following insights about tire safety:

• 48% of drivers don’t know how often to check tire pressure, including 3% who believe they never have to check.
• 53%of drivers don’t know how to check tread wear to determine if tires show signs of damage and need to be replaced.
• 53% of drivers do not know how often to rotate their tires.
• Almost all drivers (94%) realize proper tire inflation saves money – but most don’t realize just how much. A third of drivers (34%) correctly identified $65 per year as the fuel cost savings for proper tire inflation – the equivalent of almost two tanks of gas! (Based on an 18-month average of $2.50 per gallon and average 12-15 gallons per tank.)

USTMA is committed to helping consumers understand important facts about tire care and maintenance. Our members’ public education initiatives empower drivers with the knowledge they need to stay safe. USTMA’s companies, including Bridgestone Americas, Inc., Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Giti Tire (USA) Ltd., The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Hankook Tire America Corp, Kumho Tire U.S.A., Inc., Michelin North America, Inc., Nokian Tyres, Inc., Pirelli Tire North America, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas, Inc., and Yokohama Tire Corporation have developed initiatives focused on the annual tire safety campaign.

USTMA members continue to advance safe, sustainable mobility for American consumers. Today’s modern tires are complex, highly engineered products that maximize safety, performance, handling, and durability. Modern tire technology blends a unique mix of chemistry, physics, and engineering to give consumers a high degree of comfort, performance, efficiency, reliability, and safety. Many tires are custom-designed to meet the stresses and performance needs specified by ta specific vehicle’s manufacturer. New and advanced technologies, like the use of tire sensors to provide real-time tire monitoring data and the production of fuel-efficient tires that improve vehicle fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, offer benefits to consumers’ wallets and the environment.

National Tire Safety Week is an annual industry-led initiative designed to help consumers learn simple yet essential steps for proper tire care and maintenance and is supported by USTMA members: Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Continental Tire the Americas, LLC; Cooper Tire & Rubber Company; Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Hankook Tire America Corp; Kumho Tire U.S.A., Inc.; Michelin North America, Inc.; Nokian Tyres, Inc.; Pirelli Tire North America; Sumitomo Rubber Industries; Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., and Yokohama Tire Corporation.