PRLog - May 22, 2013 - PORTLAND, Ore. -- Top Tips for Summer Driving
Leading Tire Retailer Provides Advice for Oregon Drivers
For most American’s summer means road trip time.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) the number of car travelers during the coming Memorial Day holiday (Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27) is expected to rise to more than 31.2 million. In Oregon, despite the recent increase in gas prices, Memorial Day weekend means trips to parades and festivals throughout the state and drives to picnics and campsites with family and friends.
Dale Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer at Les Schwab Tire Centers offers road trip tips to make driving safer and reduce the amount of gas you use. These suggestions will ensure your vehicle and your vacation go smoothly. Videos with details for many of these tips can be found at: http://www.lesschwab.com/video.html
1. Exchange your winter tires for summer all-season tires. Winter tires wear out faster on dry, hot pavement. Switching your winter tires early will help keep them in good shape for next year so they provide effective traction and steering control.
2. Frequently check your tire pressure. Each month the average tire loses about a pound of air pressure. Proper tire inflation provides the best possible contact between the tire and the road, reducing the potential for blowouts or tread separation. Properly inflated tires also improve fuel efficiency. According to the US Department of Energy, tires set at the recommended pressure level can increase fuel efficiency by as much as 3.3 percent. That’s equivalent to about 10 cents per gallon on most family vehicles. Automotive manufacturers provide the recommended pressure levels on a sticker usually located on the frame of the driver’s door. Tire pressure information can also be found in your owner’s manual. To learn more see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8p1apWTrVI
3. Use the penny test to check your tire tread. Safe driving requires plenty of tread on your tires.to ensure the wheels grip the road for proper handling and braking. To find out if you have sufficient tread on your tires, take a penny, turn it upside down and place it in between the tread on your tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head your tires need to be inspected.
Be sure to check the inner, outer and middle grooves of each tire, because tires can wear differently on each side, due to improper wheel alignment and/or low inflation. A video on the penny test can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFuUE567mTU
4. Rotate your tires. While checking tire-tread depth and tire pressure are both important ways to insure tire safety and performance, you should also rotate your tires every 5,000 miles. Make it a habit to perform visual inspections of tires for wear or damage every time you fill up at the pump.
5. Check your vehicle alignment. It is a good practice to have your alignment checked annually. Tires that are uneven or misaligned can cause uneven wear or vehicle problems. And, before you fill the trunk and the roof rack with vacation gear, check out the vehicle manufacturers recommendations for loading your vehicle. You may not realize it, but you and your passengers count towards the total recommended vehicle weight. To learn more about alignments, see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47nwXwru4G8
6. Make sure you have an emergency roadside kit. While a check-up before you leave on vacation is the best defense; it is always good to be prepared for an emergency. Make sure your car has a functioning spare tire, along with a working jack. And just as important, make sure you have a fully charged cell phone.
7. Have fun. Ultimately a successful road trip is as much about enjoying the journey as it is about getting to your destination.
About Les Schwab Tire Centers
Les Schwab Tire Centers (www.lesschwab.com) is one of the leading independent tire dealers in the United States, with more than 6,600 employees and 444 locations throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. The Company has been recognized for its environmental and business practices through several awards including: a Milestone award from the Oregon Sustainability Board, Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, an Environmental Excellence award from the Association of Washington Business, an Integrity Counts award from the Northern Idaho Better Business Bureau, the Oregonian 2012 Top Work Place award and the 2013 Hands on Portland Corporate Volunteer award.
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Leading Tire Retailer Provides Advice for Oregon Drivers
For most American’s summer means road trip time.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) the number of car travelers during the coming Memorial Day holiday (Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27) is expected to rise to more than 31.2 million. In Oregon, despite the recent increase in gas prices, Memorial Day weekend means trips to parades and festivals throughout the state and drives to picnics and campsites with family and friends.
Dale Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer at Les Schwab Tire Centers offers road trip tips to make driving safer and reduce the amount of gas you use. These suggestions will ensure your vehicle and your vacation go smoothly. Videos with details for many of these tips can be found at: http://www.lesschwab.com/video.html
1. Exchange your winter tires for summer all-season tires. Winter tires wear out faster on dry, hot pavement. Switching your winter tires early will help keep them in good shape for next year so they provide effective traction and steering control.
2. Frequently check your tire pressure. Each month the average tire loses about a pound of air pressure. Proper tire inflation provides the best possible contact between the tire and the road, reducing the potential for blowouts or tread separation. Properly inflated tires also improve fuel efficiency. According to the US Department of Energy, tires set at the recommended pressure level can increase fuel efficiency by as much as 3.3 percent. That’s equivalent to about 10 cents per gallon on most family vehicles. Automotive manufacturers provide the recommended pressure levels on a sticker usually located on the frame of the driver’s door. Tire pressure information can also be found in your owner’s manual. To learn more see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8p1apWTrVI
3. Use the penny test to check your tire tread. Safe driving requires plenty of tread on your tires.to ensure the wheels grip the road for proper handling and braking. To find out if you have sufficient tread on your tires, take a penny, turn it upside down and place it in between the tread on your tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head your tires need to be inspected.
Be sure to check the inner, outer and middle grooves of each tire, because tires can wear differently on each side, due to improper wheel alignment and/or low inflation. A video on the penny test can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFuUE567mTU
4. Rotate your tires. While checking tire-tread depth and tire pressure are both important ways to insure tire safety and performance, you should also rotate your tires every 5,000 miles. Make it a habit to perform visual inspections of tires for wear or damage every time you fill up at the pump.
5. Check your vehicle alignment. It is a good practice to have your alignment checked annually. Tires that are uneven or misaligned can cause uneven wear or vehicle problems. And, before you fill the trunk and the roof rack with vacation gear, check out the vehicle manufacturers recommendations for loading your vehicle. You may not realize it, but you and your passengers count towards the total recommended vehicle weight. To learn more about alignments, see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47nwXwru4G8
6. Make sure you have an emergency roadside kit. While a check-up before you leave on vacation is the best defense; it is always good to be prepared for an emergency. Make sure your car has a functioning spare tire, along with a working jack. And just as important, make sure you have a fully charged cell phone.
7. Have fun. Ultimately a successful road trip is as much about enjoying the journey as it is about getting to your destination.
About Les Schwab Tire Centers
Les Schwab Tire Centers (www.lesschwab.com) is one of the leading independent tire dealers in the United States, with more than 6,600 employees and 444 locations throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. The Company has been recognized for its environmental and business practices through several awards including: a Milestone award from the Oregon Sustainability Board, Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, an Environmental Excellence award from the Association of Washington Business, an Integrity Counts award from the Northern Idaho Better Business Bureau, the Oregonian 2012 Top Work Place award and the 2013 Hands on Portland Corporate Volunteer award.
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