Cooper Tire and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) are encouraging teens and young adults across the country to learn how to conduct three basic monthly tire safety checks – tire pressure, tread depth and overall tire condition – and share this information with their peers through the new Tread Wisely Challenge. Participating schools, clubs, groups and organizations will compete against one another this year for the chance to win prizes.

The Challenge is open to any school, club, group or organization whose members are high school or college age. Groups register to participate and then host a kick-off event, encouraging other teens and young adults to complete their own tire safety checks.

The kick-off event allows youth leaders to inform their peers about tire safety, including how to complete the three monthly checks, and each student is provided with a free tire safety kit supplied by Cooper and NOYS. Then, those in attendance are asked to complete at least one tire safety check on their own using what they have learned. Groups that successfully complete the Challenge and submit the required documentation are entered to win one of 50 available cash prizes of $500.

To encourage youth across the country to take part in the Challenge, Cooper and NOYS have activated Tread Wisely Ambassadors, a group of 13 young leaders who are passionate about tire and vehicle safety, to spread the word. Tread Wisely Ambassadors have been attending youth conferences this year to encourage clubs and groups to participate. To date, more than 250 groups from across the nation are registered to take part including individual Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Business Professionals of America (BPA), DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapters.

Tread Wisely is a tire and vehicle safety program for young drivers developed in 2016 when Cooper adopted this as a signature philanthropy cause and selected NOYS as a partner in its efforts to educate and motivate young people to take necessary precautions and important safety measures when it comes to their tires and driving. The Tread Wisely Challenge is part of a larger campaign that includes sharing life-saving messages about tire safety through the free Tread Wisely app for Apple and Android devices, social media channels, the web, special youth-directed safety events, and on the ground in communities across the United States.

“A tire safety check is recommended every 30 days and before long road trips and requires just minutes to complete with three basic steps,” said Anne Roman, Cooper’s Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs. “Cooper has launched the national Tread Wisely Challenge to educate young drivers on how to conduct these checks so they can keep themselves, their friends and loved ones safer on the road. It’s one of many ways we are spreading tire and vehicle safety information to young people through our Tread Wisely initiative.”

“The goal of the Tread Wisely Challenge is to educate and empower young drivers to keep their tires in good condition. By mobilizing communities around the country, we hope to share this message with thousands of teens and young adults,” said April Rai, Interim Executive Director for the National Organizations for Youth Safety. “NOYS has successfully implemented and supported nationwide student challenges for more than 20 years, and we believe schools, student groups and communities will see the importance of this educational message and make the Tread Wisely Challenge a great success.”

To learn more about the Tread Wisely program and the Tread Wisely Challenge, and for official program rules, visit www.treadwisely.org.

Tagged: teens

Tread Wisely Challenge encourages tire safety among young adults