Tire Safety Awareness

For Motor Vehicles:

1. Properly inflated tires increase your ability to maintain vehicle control. Maintaining vehicle control is the most important factor in reducing the chance of rollover. In 2006, 15% of the vehicles involved in Massachusetts fatal crashes were rollovers.
2. Check your tires' pressure at least once a month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one in four US passenger vehicles has one or more substantially underinflated tires.
3. Use the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, NOT what is on the tire itself. Look in your owner’s manual or on your vehicle’s door jamb for the car’s proper tire inflation pressure.
4. Proper pressure can only be read from a cold tire. To obtain an accurate reading, do not drive your vehicle for at least 3 hours before checking your vehicle’s tire inflation pressure.
5. Check the spare tire pressure at least once a year. A spare tire will lose pressure over time.
6. Hydroplaning prevention only costs a penny. To measure tire tread, insert a penny in the tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you, if you see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tread is too shallow and it’s time to replace the tire.
7. Maintain your tires’ durability. Avoid fast turns on curves and around corners, and avoid fast starts and panic stops.
8. Stay away from potholes. Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or other object or if you strike the curb when parking.
9. Pull completely out of moving traffic when you have a flat tire. If there is no room, and you are in danger of getting hit by another car, you shouldn't try to change the tire – call for help.

For Bicycles:

10. Under or over-inflated tires can cause a bicyclist to lose control. Use a bicycle pump with a gauge to make sure the pressure is within the range printed on the side of the tire.