What do you know about tire safety?

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

Overwhelmingly, America's drivers believe that tire care is important, yet a large proportion of the population are either performing little or no maintenance or are making critical mistakes when caring for their tires. A study conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association found that just 11% are checking their tire pressure properly, and almost half did not check it as often as they should. The lack of awareness about proper tire care, combined with the tens of millions of vehicles on the road today with bald or underinflated tires, demonstrate an urgent need for better education about proper tire care among drivers.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association offers the following tips for summertime safe driving:

* Make sure you check tire pressure regularly--at least once per month and before every long trip--including the spare, and keep it at the level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

* The correct cold inflation pressure for your tires is listed on the vehicle placard on the door post, fuel door, glove box, or in the owners' manual. "Cold inflation pressure" refers to the pressure in a tire that has not been driven for at least three hours.

* Never "bleed" or reduce air pressure when tires are hot. The tire pressure listed on your sidewalls is the maximum pressure and is not intended to serve as notification of the correct pressure.

* Overloading your vehicle creates excessive heat inside your...