NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 2, 2007 - One of your first lines of defense in keeping your car out of the pits and on the road is a properly maintained set of tires.

"Keeping your tires in good repair is an important part of the formula that keeps your car running at its maximum level of performance," said AutoVantage spokesperson Liz Allison. "Combined with regular maintenance check-ups, you can realize great savings at the pump and in the car shop by just doing a few, simple do-it-yourself tests to inspect your tires."

According to tiresafety.com, while 75 percent of drivers wash their car monthly, only 14 percent of drivers correctly check their tire pressure.

 "Everything rides on your tires," said Mike Wain, vice president of AutoVantage. "Keeping your tires well inflated and in good repair is just as important as keeping everything under the hood well maintained."

And unlike most mechanical issues with your vehicle, you can do many things to maintain your tires without expert training. 

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your tires:

• Keep the pressure on - Just because a tire looks properly inflated doesn't mean it isn't flat. Tires can lose up to half of their inflation pressure and not appear to be flat. When checking your tires, locate the recommended tire pressure, or psi (pounds per square inch), on the tire information placard or in the owner's manual. Some cars have the same amount of pressure in all tires while others use different amounts of pressure in front and rear tires. The tire placard or user's manual should indicate this. Use a tire gauge to check each tire's pressure when the car is "
  cold" (hasn't been used in the last three hours). If the pressure is too high, release some pressure by gently pressing on the tire valve with the edge of your tire gauge. If the pressure is too low, add the missing pounds of pressure at a service station.


• Conduct a monthly check-up - Of the 43,400 highway fatalities in 2005, 660 were caused by under-inflated tires. The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you check the pressure on all your tires, including your spare, once a month and before any long road trips. Keeping your tires properly inflated takes less than five minutes and not only prevents unnecessary wear and tear on your tires, but can also pay off in a big way at the gas pump - saving you up to 10 cents per gallon.    


• Limit your load - All vehicles have a load limit, or maximum recommended load per vehicle. Check your car's tire information placard, generally found on the inside of the driver's side door, or owner's manual for the recommended load limit for your vehicle.  If you're towing a trailer or other vehicle, remember that some of that weight is transferred to your vehicle and should also be taken into consideration.


• Take the tread test - The tire's tread helps keep you firmly mounted on the ground when driving. Tread naturally wears over time and it's important to change your tire when the tread is worn out.  Fortunately, knowing when your tread has run its course is not a guessing game. Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that can be found in the tread grooves. When these indicators become even with the outside of the tread it is time to change your tire. You can also take the Lincoln penny test to check your tread. Place a penny in your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down. If the tread doesn't cover Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires.


• Remember to rotate - Leaving your tires in the same position for extended periods of time can create uneven wear on your tires. To prevent making pricey tire replacement before your tire's life is through, it's recommended that you rotate your tires every 5,000 - 7,000 miles. Depending on your vehicle, there are several different rotating patterns to create even wear and get maximum mileage out of your tires. Consult a site such as www.tiresafety.com/maintenance to see what's right for your vehicle.  


• Keep aligned and in balance - When you have your tires rotated, you should also have each one balanced and the entire set realigned. Balancing your tires prevents vibration or shaking of your vehicle when you have your tires rotated. It consists of positioning weights on the wheel to counterbalance heavy spots on the wheel and tire assembly. A wheel alignment prevents your car from veering from side to side when driving on a straight, level road. The alignment adjusts the angles of your wheels so that they are positioned correctly relative to your vehicle's frame. These processes should always be done by a qualified technician, and, when done properly, will help maximize the life of your tires.  


• Make a visual check - There are some things that you can detect without the help of a professional such as foreign objects imbedded in the tire, uneven tread wear, cracks or cuts in the sidewall or irregularities like bulges and blisters. Make it a habit to check your tires at least once a month (when you check your air pressure) for visible issues like these that may cause an untimely blowout on the road.


• Know how to handle a blowout - Even if you take expert care of your tires, there's always a chance you may have a blowout. Be prepared and know how to handle your vehicle if this happens:




• Stay calm. Don't immediately step on the break or abruptly take your foot off the accelerator. Both could lead to loss of control.


• Gradually release the gas pedal.


• Correct the steering and continue to slow down.


• Pull off the road and as far onto the shoulder as possible once you have stabilized your vehicle.

 

Liz Allison, a spokesperson for AutoVantage, is a NASCAR TV personality, radio host and best-selling author.  She has served as a racing analyst for TNT, CNNSI, TNN, CNN, ESPN and ESPN2.  Allison has appeared on NBC's "Today Show," CNN, Fox and Friends, ESPN, MSNBC, Fox News Weekend Live and the Speed Channel.  She is host of the No. 1 NASCAR radio show in Nashville, called "The Drivers Zone," on WGFX-FM.  Allison is also host and track announcer for the Nashville Superspeedway.  She is the best-selling author of "The Girl's Guide to NASCAR" - and has written two sequels for Time Warner Books, the first of which was released Sept. 6 Allison has written three NASCAR Harlequin Romance novels, the first slated for November 2007 publication. She has penned articles for USA Today, NASCAR Scene, NASCAR Illustrated, NASCAR.com, MSN.com and FoxSports.com. 

About AutoVantage

Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787) can save from 5 to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations, including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care Center locations.  AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included.   AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

 

About Affinion Group

Affinion Group, www.affiniongroup.com, is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers.  With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 5,200 affinity partners.  Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet.  Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs.   Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 14 countries across Europe.

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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