Description

Car and safety experts from AAA say after the winter, drivers should double-check their tires and ensure they are properly inflated.

Transcript

Host: After a long winter of potholes, salt and other elements attacking your tires, experts advice you need to take a close look at your tires now that it’s spring. Robert Sinclair, Jr.: Winter places some undue stresses on a vehicle is probably the most stressful condition that a vehicle will go up against. In AAA, we realize that tires are probably the most important safety item on a vehicle and yet, the most neglected. Host: Neglected tires may not only put the owners of a vehicle in danger but other drives on the road as well. A survey by the Car Care Council found that 21% of cars and trucks had improperly inflated tires and 16% were so worn, they needed replacement. Dave Cowger: The primary number on a tire is the size. Host: Engineer Dave Cowger develops Tire Performance Criteria for General Motors. Dave Cowger: The Tire Performance Criteria that we set involves about 20 different specifications and developing a tire to that TPC specification means balancing all 20 of these attributes for performance, for braking, for handling, for fuel economy and for comfort so that you optimize the overall performance of the vehicle. Host: Are all tires built the same way? Dave Cowger: Just because a tire has the same size as what you had in your original vehicle does not meant that it’s got the properties that that tire design originally for your vehicle have. For instance, this is a tire engineer for an SUV. You could get the same size tire engineer for a passenger car. Host: Cowger says that putting the wrong replacement tire on your vehicle may affect its handling and performance and it will likely wear out faster costing you money in the long run. Check your owner’s manual or go to your dealer to get the proper tires for your car. I’m Andrew Schmertz.