When measuring tire inflation, a gaze is no substitute for a gauge.

When measuring tire inflation, a gaze is no substitute for a gauge
Measuring and maintaining correct tire inflation with a tire gauge is a road safety
essential.

Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failure and can lead to poor or delayed braking, steering or acceleration; not surprising when you consider that the air contained in tires supports about 95 per cent of a vehicle’s weight.

Tires that are under-inflated have a smaller footprint on the road surface, which weakens their grip. The result is reduced stopping, cornering and handling capabilities that worsen with the severity of under-inflation. Seriously under-inflated tires can also fail suddenly due to extreme heat build up.

Beyond obeying the speed limit and driving defensively, motorists can protect themselves and their families by measuring their tires’ inflation levels monthly to ensure they are always inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation.
“Our research shows clearly that tire under-inflation is both widespread and a significant safety issue,” says Glenn Maidment, President of the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC), which represents Canada’s tire makers. “Tire makers build incredible performance capabilities into their tires to give motorists a safe and enjoyable driving experience. But it is up to vehicle owners to ensure that they properly inflate and maintain their tires, so they perform as their builders intended.”

According to RAC research, nearly one quarter of Canadian drivers have at least one tire that is severely under-inflated by more than 20 percent, and nearly 70 per cent drive on one or more tires that are under-inflated by more than 10 percent. Improperly inflated tires also wear faster and use more fuel due to increased rolling resistance.

Research by Natural Resources Canada, for example, has found that the average Canadian motorist wastes about two weeks worth of fuel a year due to tire under-inflation. Depending on your driving habits, the price tag for this wasted fuel can add up to hundreds of dollars.

Here is the monthly four-step approach to proper tire inflation recommended by tire makers as part of the industry’s Be Tire Smart campaign to advance road safety, environmental protection and fuel economy:

- Find the recommended inflation pressure for your tires. It will be listed on the vehicle placard most commonly located on the inside post of one of the doors, in the glove compartment or on the fuel door. If you cannot find your vehicle’s placard, consult your owner’s manual.

- Remember to only measure pressure when your tires are cold. If you have been driving, wait three hours before measuring tire pressure.

- Use only a reliable tire gauge. Remove the cap from the valve stem, press the tire gauge onto the valve and take the pressure reading.

- Add air until the recommended air pressure is achieved. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the centre of the valve, then re-measure the pressure.

Too many drivers think a visual check will tell them if their tire pressures are correct. A tire can be under-inflated by 20 percent or more and not look noticeably different. The only accurate way to measure a tire’s air pressure is with a reliable gauge, which can be purchased for a few dollars. Another common mistake is assuming that the maximum pressure stamped on the tire’s sidewall is right for everyday driving. That inflation level refers to the maximum inflation pressure the tire can contain under maximum load and is not the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended air pressure for normal driving conditions. Always use the air pressure stipulated by the vehicle placard.

“Proper tire inflation, coupled with regular tire maintenance, helps protect your family,” says Maidment. “Regular inflation checks will also prolong the life of your tires, cut your fuel bills and reduce harmful emissions. Monitoring and, if necessary, adjusting your tire inflation levels each month is a smart play no matter how you look at it.”

To learn more about proper tire maintenance, visit the Be Tire Smart – Play your P.A.R.T. website at www.betiresmart.ca. Be Tire Smart – Play Your P.A.R.T. is an advocacy campaign designed to educate the motoring public about the benefits of proper tire inflation and maintenance. The campaign is a joint initiative of the Rubber Association of Canada, which represents the tire industry, and Natural
Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency.

Ontario Tire Industry Rolls Out Recycling Program

Program means free tire disposal for consumers, elimination of stockpiles and $23 million investment in the first year in the scrap tire recycling industry in Ontario

TORONTO, Sept. 2 /Press Release from CNW/ - A new tire recycling program rolling out in Ontario will bring new life to the millions of used tires that come off vehicles in the province every year by responsibly recycling them into useful products, creating investment and new green jobs, driving innovation. The Used Tires Program is being funded by the tire industry, and managed by Ontario Tire Stewardship.

Through a network of Registered Collectors - which includes retailers, municipalities and other drop-off points across the province - the program will allow Ontarians to drop off up to four used tires per person, at no charge, to be collected and recycled. Tracking systems will help eliminate the illegal dumping of scrap tires and ensure that used tires are managed by service providers that have adopted best environmental practices.

"Ontario's Used Tires Program marks the most ambitious used tire program in the country," said Andrew Horsman, Executive Director of Ontario Tire Stewardship. "The Program will remove tire stockpiles, recycle tires into household, commercial and automotive products, and create green jobs and economic benefits right here in our province."

The Used Tires Program includes a three-year plan to eliminate the approximately 2.8 million stockpiled tires in dumpsites across Ontario, as well as ensure that the approximately 11 million plus scrap tires generated annually are diverted from burning and land filling to other uses, such as rubber mats, playground products, hockey rinks and automotive parts, adding to the everyday life and economy of Ontario's communities. Until now, approximately 50 percent of Ontario's used tires were trucked into the US to be burned.

How the Used Tires Program benefits Ontario and its residents

Environmental Benefits:

- Responsible management of used tires will eliminate the unauthorized disposal of scrap tires and promote reusing tires and recycling of scrap tires into green products.

Economic Growth:

- The Used Tires Program will create jobs and ensure economic growth by injecting over $23 million in scrap tire recycling in the first year alone.

Health and Safety:

- Ontario Tire Stewardship will clear stockpiles protecting both Ontarians and the environment.

Innovation:

- Funding for research and development of scrap tire management options to create new processes and markets for recycled rubber products within the province.

The Used Tires Program is funded by tire brand owners and tire importers, not the taxpayer. The program funding covers the costs associated with collecting and recycling all future and currently stockpiled scrap tires in Ontario, as well as research and development, and consumer education.

About Ontario Tire Stewardship:

Ontario Tire Stewardship (www.ontarioTS.ca) is an Industry Funded Organization implementing and operating the approved Used Tires Program, a province-wide scrap tire solution for on-road and off-road tires supplied into the Ontario market, diverting them away from burning and land filling to reuse and recycling.

For further information: To arrange an interview with an Ontario Tire Stewardship representative please contact: Primary Contact: Carrie Makrigiannis, (416) 969-2750, cmakrigiannis@environicspr.com; Secondary Contact: Jennifer Hills, (416) 969-2669, jhills@environicspr.com