Cooper Tire’s Tread Wisely Program, a tire and vehicle safety campaign for teens and young adults, is encouraging young drivers to make tire safety a priority this fall.
Tires are the only thing connecting vehicles to the road, so it is critical they are in good condition before drivers hit the road. Tread Wisely recommends performing a tire and vehicle safety check once a month. With the easy-todownload Tread Wisely mobile app, young drivers can find and complete safety checklists, set up monthly safety reminders, view brief, helpful safety videos, and more.
Three Important Tire Safety Checks
Tire Pressure: Proper tire pressure ensures better control of the vehicle, improves fuel consumption and helps prevent uneven wear on tires. With the right air pressure, tires can perform as they should and drivers can save on fuel costs. In fact, having just one tire that is underinflated by just 8 pounds per square inch (psi) can reduce the life of a tire by 9,000 miles and increase fuel consumption by 4%.
Tire Tread: Proper tread depth helps tires maintain traction, reduce hydroplaning, and improves how tires reacts to steering, acceleration and braking. With good tire tread, drivers have better traction to stop and hold to the road on curves, making trips safer.
Overall Tire Condition: Damaged tires can shorten tire life and cause tire failure and air loss. A monthly check of tire condition helps ensure safety on the road. During these checks, drivers should look for cuts, cracks, splits, punctures and bulges. If any of these conditions are spotted, or if the condition of the tire is questionable, drivers should visit a qualified tire dealer for a professional inspection.
The Tread Wisely app is available for download from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).