Underinflated Tires Can Cost You: Do Your PART

June 7th, 2011

Planning to head out soon for a summer vacation or a quick weekend getaway? Before you do, make sure you do something even more important than packing your bags. Do your PART and check your tires for proper pressure.

Since next week (June 5-11) is the 10th National Tire Safety Week, an initiative of RMA’s tire maintenance education program (Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART), it makes sense to reiterate a few simple facts about how to properly care for the tires on your family vehicles.

PART is an acronym that stands for Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread – the four key elements of proper tire care, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).

• Pressure – Check the tire pressure of all tires at least once a month. Definitely check it if you’re heading out on a road trip. Under-inflation is the leading cause of tire wear and tear.

• Alignment – If your vehicle’s wheels are misaligned in the front or the rear it can cause uneven and rapid tire tread wear.

• Rotation – You’ll get more uniform tire wear if you have your tires rotated on a regular basis.

• Tread – Unusual and advanced tread wear can reduce tire ability to grip the road during adverse conditions.

What’s the big deal?

AAA, which, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), helped RMA start National Tire Safety Week a decade ago, estimates that it will come to the aid of 1.2 million stranded motorists with tire-related problems this summer.

Imagine having your family vacation ruined because you failed to take five minutes to check your tires’ pressure before heading out? And it only takes five minutes. That’s about the same amount of time it takes to shave or shower. Not really much time at all, but the savings – in fuel savings and tire repair or replacement costs can really add up.

RMA surveys show that 85 percent of motorists don’t know how to properly inflate their tires. According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Energy, properly maintained tire pressure increases fuel economy by 3.3 percent and can save motorists up to 12 cents a gallon at the pump.

Perhaps the statistic that is most important is the one from the NHTSA: Under-inflated tires contribute to over 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries annually.

How to properly check tire pressure

The RMA has the following tips on how to correctly check tire inflation pressure. In its 2011 survey of 1,000 motorists, only 15 percent of those surveyed knew how to do this correctly.

• Check pressure at least once a month.

• Use the tire inflation pressure recommended by the manufacturer (found on a label in the vehicle’s driver’s side door or owner’s manual – not on the tire’s sidewall). RMA found that 62 percent don’t know where to find the correct tire inflation information for their vehicle. Fifty-three percent think it’s on the tire’s sidewall and 15 percent don’t know at all.

• Check tires when they are cold – not after you’ve been driving for a while. If you have been driving, wait at least three hours before checking tire pressure. The reason to check when they’re cold is because as tires roll, they warm up and increase pressure. This could give a false reading of the actual tire pressure.

• Don’t forget to check pressure inflation on the spare tire as well. RMA found that seven out of ten drivers neglect to check spare tire pressure.

Bottom line: Keep your family safe on the road this summer – and save money on gas as well as tire repairs. Check tire pressure on all tires before you get everyone on-board to head out of town.

For more tire safety tips, check out the NHTSA link below.

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[AAA via PR Newswire, RMA, NHTSA]

http://www.familycarguide.com/news/1061047_underinflated-tires-can-cost-you-do-your-part

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Check the Tires!

May 27th, 2011

How to save on $4 a gallon gas this summer

Tamp down the road rage, check the tires and empty that trunk

Check the tires: Make sure your tires have the proper pressure. The Department of Energy says proper tire inflation can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 3 percent. You can also get better gas mileage if your car is properly tuned and you use the correct grade of oil.

Click here to read the full MSNBC article.

Click here for fuel economy tips from the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Feed My Starving Children Sending 600,000 Meals to Japan

March 25th, 2011

Shipments Going Through Convoy of Hope

03.17.2011– Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), a Minnesota-based, Christian food charity, has arranged for nearly 600,000 meals to be shipped to Japan–with possibly more to come as other aid organizations request its food.

In an arrangement made late Wednesday, the first 50,000 meals from FMSC are already on their way to Tokyo on a shipment with Convoy of Hope, a distribution partner working in the Far East. Convoy of Hope had originally planned the shipment for the Philippines, but decided to divert the FMSC meals to immediate relief efforts in Japan.

Convoy of Hope has reserved another 542,000 meals that will be shipped out of the Eagan and Coon Rapids, Minnesota, warehouses of FMSC early next week, bound for ocean liners to Japan. So far, the meals for Japan are already packed and in storage, but volunteers and donors are needed every day to keep FMSC’s meal pipeline full for the nearly 70 countries the charity serves.

“We are heart-broken over the devastation in Japan,” says FMSC Executive Director/CEO Mark Crea. “We are not primarily a disaster aid organization, since most of our meals are pre-allocated to developing nations. But we believe these meals could be life-giving to some of the thousands of Japanese now in evacuation centers, who will need both short-term and long-term aid. We pray they gain strength and some hope from these meals, sent in the name of Christ.”

FMSC has offered its food to four other partner organizations that may have channels into the northern region of Japan, struck with a historic 9.0 earthquake last Friday, followed by a tsunami and evacuations away from nuclear plants.

The MannaPack Rice meals of FMSC are comprised of rice, soy nuggets, dehydrated vegetables, and 20 vitamins and minerals in a vegetarian chicken flavoring. Prepared with boiling water, a single one-cup serving provides much of the nutrition needed daily by adults and children.

Food scientists from Cargill and General Mills developed the formula for Feed My Starving Children in 1987, and since then, the organization has produced 400 million meals.

FMSC distributes food to nearly 70 countries around the world through humanitarian agencies and missions. All meals–just 24-cents each–are funded by donors and packed by volunteers. FMSC has six packing sites in Minnesota, Illinois, and Arizona as well as a nationwide MobilePack operation that has traveled to 33 states. A full 94% of total donations go directly to the food program, earning FMSC the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator.

For more information or to donate, visit http://www.fmsc.org/aboutus/mealsforjapan. Or give an immediate gift of $10 by texting “manna” to 50555.

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AAA Offers Ways to Save Money on Gas during Holiday Driving

December 30th, 2010

From shopping trips to trips to Grandma’s, easy ways to save money as fuel prices continue to rise

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — With the national average price of regular, self-service, gasoline nearing $3.00 per gallon, many drivers are saying ‘bah humbug’ at the gas pump this holiday season.

“For many, rising gas prices are especially tough this time of year as they are on the road more with extra shopping trips, holiday events and road trips to visit friends and family,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive vice president. “However, there are several easy things drivers can do to stretch each tank of gas and find the lowest fuel prices when it is time to fill up.”

To help ease the burden at the pump, AAA offers these tips for drivers to save money on fuel during the holiday season:

Be gentle on the gas and brake pedals

One of the easiest and most effective ways to conserve fuel is to change driving styles. Instead of making quick starts and sudden stops, go easy on the gas and brake pedals. If there is a red light ahead, ease off the gas and coast up to it rather than waiting until the last second to brake. Once the light turns green, gently accelerate rather than making a quick start. The U.S. Department of Energy reports aggressive driving can lower a car’s fuel economy by up to 33 percent.

Drive the speed limit

While the holiday hustle and bustle may have drivers rushing around town, slowing down to observe the speed limit not only can conserve fuel but also avoid a speeding ticket. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that each 5 mph driven over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. Leave yourself plenty of time to reach your destination to avoid feeling rushed so you can arrive safely and with a little more fuel in the tank.

Properly inflate tires

Only 17 percent of cars have all four tires properly inflated, yet the U.S. Department of Energy reports that proper tire inflation can improve fuel economy by up to three percent. It’s important not only to check tire pressures at least once a month, but also make sure it’s done correctly; a survey found 85 percent of motorist don’t know how to properly check tire pressures. Check the pressures when the tires are cold and have not been driven on recently. Tires should be inflated to pressure levels recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, NOT the pressure levels stamped on the tire sidewall. The proper pressure levels can be found on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb or in the owner’s manual.

Plan errands in advance

When running holiday errands, try to combine multiple tasks into one trip. Several short trips starting with a cold engine each time can use twice as much gas as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Also, plan the route in advance to drive the fewest miles.

Keep luggage off the roof

Try to avoid using a car’s roof rack to transport luggage or other equipment—especially over long distances on the highway. A loaded roof rack affects the vehicle aerodynamics and creates extra drag that reduces fuel economy.

Let AAA find lowest gas prices

Drivers equipped with the AAA TripTik Mobile iPhone application can find the lowest gas prices close to home or on the road. Using AAA TripTik Mobile, the first free app offering frequently updated gas prices, motorists can compare fuel costs at stations near to their location or in a specified area. The AAA app’s GPS technology enables users to quickly locate stations on a map and see the price for all available grades of gasoline. AAA also provides gas station location and fuel price information at AAA.com with the online TripTik Travel Planner.

Keep up-to-date on vehicle maintenance

Keeping a car running properly helps achieve maximum fuel economy. Be sure to follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule, and do not ignore vehicle warning lights that indicate something is wrong. Warning lights can signal problems that will greatly decrease a car’s fuel efficiency. To help motorists find reliable, high-quality vehicle service, AAA has inspected and approved nearly 8,000 auto repair shops across the country. To locate a nearby AAA Approved Auto Repair facility, visit AAA.com/repair.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.

SOURCE AAA

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AIR-for-Charity Featured in Inspiring New Video

September 13th, 2010

AIR-for-Charity Featured in Inspiring New Video
Watch on-line before September 21
to spread the word about helping hungry children.

An inspiring new video features AIR-for-Charity’s program to save the lives of hungry children through the non-profit Feed My Starving Children (fmsc.org). You can help gain a lot more exposure for AIR-for-Charity and Feed My Starving Children by viewing the video at http://www.youtube.com/NACSTV#p/u/4/ZAgGK0j1MfY . Just click on the link—and forward it to others. They can make a difference with just one click, too!

The short video—just 30 seconds long—encourages NACS Show attendees to learn more about Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) and AIR-for-Charity by visiting our booth—#3031—during the show, October 5-8, in Atlanta.

Our video is competing with other exhibitor videos for the most on-line visitors. The winner receives exclusive exhibitor exposure on the NACS Website and throughout the conference in hotels and other conference venues. The NACS Show attracts about 20,000 convenience store industry professionals each year, and the contest ends at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, September 21.

Judges also consider creativity, subject matter, and other quality measures. But the number of on-line visits makes up 50 percent of the scoring.

So take just a moment to watch AIR-for-Charity and Feed My Starving Children in action at http://www.youtube.com/NACSTV#p/u/4/ZAgGK0j1MfY .

You’ll also learn how to help save the lives of hungry children by simply inflating your tires using AIR-serv air machines with no extra effort or expense.

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New AIR for Charity Program Helps to Feed Starving Children

May 24th, 2010

And you can, too, without extra effort or expense

Memorial Day Motorists: Make sure your Memorial Day travels are safe—and memorable—by filling your vehicle’s tires to the proper pressure with air from AIR-serv air machines at convenience stores, gasoline stations, and car washes. Properly filled tires perform better, suffer fewer blow-outs, use less fuel , protect the environment by reducing harmful emissions, and last longer. Look for the words AIR-serv on tire-inflation and vacuum machines.

Plus, you can create a special personal memory by being among the first to help feed starving children through AIR-serv’s exciting new program, Air for Charity™. This innovative new initiative enables retailers and the driving public to support a better world without any extra effort or expense. It also allows you to help hungry kids every time you inflate your tires with AIR-serv air.

Retail Partners: AIR-serv retail partners will want to tell their customers about the good they can do just by inflating their tires to the right pressure, especially on a monthly basis. Retailers who want to learn more about how they benefit can call 800-247-8363.

How does Air for Charity™ work?

The leading tire-inflation and vacuum services provider, AIR-serv, has pledged $500,000 over five years to Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit organization that annually saves the lives of millions of severely malnourished children in nearly 70 nations. A portion of AIR-serv revenues generated by drivers using AIR-serv air machines will go directly to providing such children with highly nutritious, specially designed meals.

The launch of Air for Charity™ also coincides with the launch of our new Website this month (www.air-serv.com). The AIR-serv Website will provide retailers and drivers with helpful information about tire maintenance as well as updates on the AIR-serv Air for Charity™ alliance with Feed My Starving Children.