USTMA Kicks Off National Tire Safety Week: June 27–July 3

WASHINGTON (June 27, 2022) – Representing the world’s largest global tire manufacturers, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) today kicked off its annual tire safety awareness campaign, National Tire Safety Week, which will run from June 27– July 3, 2022. This initiative is intended to educate consumers, motorists and fleets about tire care, safety and maintenance, especially as the summer travel season heats up heading into the Fourth of July holiday.

“Tires enable so much in our daily lives, and they perform so well that many of us can be forgiven for taking our tires for granted. But, like any important investment, they need good care to stay in top shape,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO. “Our member companies invest billions of dollars innovating ever safer and more sustainable products. Tires are the most important safety feature on a vehicle and the only part that actually touches the road. So, each year during National Tire Safety Week, we remind drivers and fleet operators to check their tires and perform simple, but important, maintenance practices before getting behind the wheel.”

U.S. tire manufacturers recommend drivers check tire pressure at least monthly, regularly check tire tread depth and ensure vehicle tires are rotated and properly aligned. Proper maintenance and periodic inspections by a tire professional are essential for optimum performance and service life of tires and can help ensure lower overall environmental impacts.

To help motorists remember these important tire maintenance actions, USTMA encourages drivers to remember the acronym “P.A.R.T.”—Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. Tire safety essentials are especially important this year as significant numbers of motorists are back in their cars embarking on summer road trips.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has reported that drivers are more comfortable traveling now than any other time since the pandemic began, with increased fuel prices having minimal impact on vacation and road trip plans. A 2021 survey co-led by USTMA showed that 70 percent of drivers across the U.S. reported not checking their tire pressure in the 30 days prior, despite professional recommendations to do so at least once a month. USTMA is committed to helping consumers understand important facts about tire care and maintenance especially as the travel season peaks as expected.

This year, the chairs of the Congressional Tire Caucus Reps. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) and Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) introduced a resolution honoring National Tire Safety Week. The bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio). The National Lt. Governors Association also passed a resolution on tire safety, urging American motorists to include regular tire inspections as an integral element of their household routines.

USTMA members continue to advance safe, sustainable mobility for American consumers. Today’s modern tires are complex, highly engineered products that maximize safety, performance, handling and durability. Modern tire technology blends a unique mix of chemistry, physics and engineering to give consumers a high degree of comfort, performance, efficiency, reliability and safety. Many tires are custom designed to meet the stresses and performance needs specified by a specific vehicle manufacturer. New and advanced technologies, like the use of tire sensors to provide real-time tire monitoring data and the production of fuel-efficient tires that improve vehicle fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, offer benefits to consumers’ wallets and the environment.

USTMA members lead public education initiatives that empower drivers with the knowledge they need to stay safe. National Tire Safety Week is an industry-led initiative designed to help consumers learn simple yet essential steps for proper tire care and maintenance and is supported by USTMA members: Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Continental Tire the Americas, LLC; Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Hankook Tire America Corp; Kumho Tire U.S.A., Inc.; Michelin North America, Inc.; Nokian Tyres, Inc.; Pirelli Tire North America; Sumitomo Rubber Industries; Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., and Yokohama Tire Corporation.