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A New P.A.T.H. to Tire Safety

27 May 1999

Lack of Attention to Tire Care Sets Michelin and AAA Foundation on P.A.T.H. To Safety

    According to a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS)-Roper survey, 
millions of motorists are taking the increased reliability of vehicles and tires 
for granted, leaving them vulnerable to tire failures or stranding due to a flat.  
With more than 33.3 million Americans expected on the road this Memorial Day weekend, 
this could lead to real trouble on the country's roads.  While many may see a flat
tire as an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death.
    According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 600
pedestrians are killed on the interstate highway system each year.  According
to AAAFTS, almost one-third of those pedestrians were "unintended pedestrians"
-- motorists who were working on their vehicle, walking on the shoulder, or
exchanging information after an existing crash.
    Underinflation is the leading cause of tire failure and the Roper survey
found that more than one-half of all motorists don't check their tire pressure
often enough.  When motorists do check tire pressure, 48 percent don't know
how to correctly determine their vehicle's recommended pressure.  In addition,
nearly one in five drivers said they couldn't change a flat tire if they had
to.  This equates to more than six million uninformed motorists on the road
this holiday weekend.
    "In addition to preventative maintenance, motorists at least need to know
how to change a flat," said AAAFTS CEO Dave Willis.  "Although cell phones and
roadside assistance programs have made it easier than ever to call and get
help, not all wireless phones work in all areas and it can take hours for aid
to arrive during busy seasons."
    Memorial Day will be the launch of a record summer traveling season, most
likely attributed to the strong overall economy.  Because so many motorists
are risking dangerous tire failures or being stranded with a flat, tire-leader
Michelin and the AAAFTS teamed-up and created the PATH program -- Prevent and
Avoid Trouble on the Highway -- to educate drivers throughout the U.S. on
proper tire care and how to effectively handle tire emergencies.  The program
kicks off May 27 in Atlanta and will tour the country the remainder of the
year, making stops in Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and
Orlando.
    The PATH program's main education element is the Michelin-AAAFTS "Pit
Stops."  Motorists will have the opportunity to have their tires checked for
proper pressure, alignment and wear by tire experts for no charge at the
drive-through events.  The experts also will be available to answer any
tire-related questions that drivers may have.
    All drivers stopping at PATH Pit Stops will receive a free Michelin
tire-care kit and a toy for young passengers.  The Michelin Man also will be
at the stops, posing with kids for complimentary photos.
    "Tires are the only safety feature on your vehicle that actually touches
the road, so their maintenance is critical to your car's performance and
family's safety," said Jim Morton, vice president for Michelin North America.
"The PATH program aims to educate motorists that -- just like a vehicle's
engine needs an oil change every 3,000 miles for peak performance -- tires
require regular maintenance to perform as engineered."
    Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including
airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty
trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle.  Headquartered in Greenville, S.C.,
Michelin North America employs 24,500 and operates 25 plants.
    The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a not-for-profit charitable
organization funded by donations from American Automobile Association (AAA)
and Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) clubs and members.  It is dedicated
to preventing crashes and saving lives through research and education in the
field of traffic safety.

                    AAAFTS-Roper Tire Care Survey Results

    --  Most motorists generally don't know what pressure they need to
        maintain their tires at, as 55 percent of respondents who check their
        own pressure don't refer to their vehicle's tire placard or owners'
        manual to determine its recommended tire pressure.  Forty-eight
        percent of respondents incorrectly inflate their tires to the pressure
        indicated on the tire sidewall, which is the MAXIMUM, not OPTIMUM
        pressure for tire safety, longevity and performance.

    --  Tires naturally lose air, so pressures need to be checked at least
        once per month to deliver optimum performance.  More than one-half of
        motorists don't check tire pressure in the recommended one-month
        intervals.  Men are more likely than women to check pressure monthly
        (38 percent to 25 percent).

    --  Flat tires are a common problem, with 60 percent of motorists
        responding that they have had a flat in the past five years.  Yet one
        in five motorists -- 35 percent of women -- say they couldn't change a
        tire if they had a flat.