Scrap Tire Management Council

Oil End Game

Retreading & Repairing Source

What Kind of Inflation is Good for the Economy?

Did you know that properly inflated tires can increase gas mileage from 10 to 30 percent? That means that if everyone the country regularly checked and maintained the pressure of their vehicle's tires, we could reduce the amount of imported oil significantly. With predictions of costs per barrel of oil in the +$100 mark, maximizing the tires efficiency will have a positive effect on your pocket book.

Tires are often the most neglected parts of a vehicle. And yet, they are among the most important and easily cared for. By using these few simple tire maintenance practices, you can increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency, reduce harmful emissions, save money and make your vehicle safer.

• Measure your tire pressure monthly using a good quality tire gauge. A visual inspection is not sufficient to detect under or over-inflation problems.
• Have your tires aligned annually.
• Tires should be balanced approximately every 12,000 miles or 20,000 kilometers, or when drivers feel a vibration.
• Rotate your tires regularly.
• Check the tread wear regularly and replace tires when your tire tread is worn out.
• Make a visual check for embedded stones and other foreign objects that could work their way into the tire and cause a leak.

Proper Inflation
Proper tire pressure is critical for safe driving and fuel efficiency, but many passenger and light truck vehicles operate with under or over-inflated tires. Ninety-five per cent of a vehicle's weight is supported by the tire air pressure, with the tire supporting just 5%, making inflation a critical part of a tire's ability to perform. Tire inflation also has a strong impact on tread life. But remember, premature tire wear can also be caused by numerous mechanical conditions in your car. Worn or loose steering or suspension parts, misalignment and improper mounting and balancing can all contribute to premature tire wear.

Tires are permeable and can lose up to 2 psi per month. More air is lost in hot weather as the pores in the tire material expand. To maintain proper inflation levels, measure the air pressure in your vehicle's tires at least once a month.

Relying on a sight inspection alone is not an accurate way to measure tire pressure. Tires may be significantly under or over-inflated, yet you may not be able to tell just by looking at them.

The only accurate way to know if your tires need to be inflated is by measuring their pressure with a reliable tire gauge. Tire gauges are available at most automotive supply and hardware stores.

Correct Tire Pressure
Correct tire pressure varies from vehicle to vehicle and wheel to wheel. In fact, the recommended pressure for personal vehicles ranges from 20 to over 50 psi.

The pressure for your vehicles tires will be listed on the information placard. Your owner's manual should include the correct tire pressure or direct you to the placard's location on your vehicle.

The pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the maximum tire pressure - or the tire pressure that is required to carry the maximum load of the tire. It is not the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, which is a common misperception.

Under-inflation
Under-inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. Twenty-three per cent of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated by more than 20%. Under-inflated tires on your vehicle lead to poor or delayed braking, steering and acceleration. Under-inflated tires may squeal when stopping or cornering even at moderate speeds, particularly on warm pavement.

A vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 20% (8psi) can reduce the life of the tire by 10,000 miles and can increase the vehicle's fuel consumption by 4%. Without enough air, the sides of a tire bend and flex too much. This builds up heat, which can cause serious damage and leads to sudden tire failure. It will also increase rolling resistance, which reduces tread life and increases fuel consumption.

Over-inflation
Over-inflation can be a problem too. An over-inflated tire rides on just the center portion of the tread. The smaller contact area means reduced grip on the road, leading to a harsh ride, handling issues (such as steering and stopping problems) and increased wear on tires and suspension components.

It's best to check your cold tire pressure (before you drive) at least once a month to reduce unnecessary tread wear.

Here's an old trick: Over or under-inflated tires cause premature tire wear, poor handling and gas mileage. So at each tire, take a coin and insert it in the tread at the inside, center and outside. If the tread is deeper in the center than the edges, the tire is under inflated. If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel alignment checked soon. Also, if you use a penny and can see the top of Lincoln's head, it is time to recycle that tire.

When maintaining your tires, don't forget the spare tire. And make sure you have a jack with instructions, a small blanket, a pair of gloves and a flashlight that works.

When choosing new tires for your vehicle:

• Find reputable dealers known for good service.
  
• Choose radial tires and increase your gas mileage up to 10 percent and they also last longer.
  
• Buy only quality tires of the proper size with a tread wear rating between 380 and 500. (The rating is stamped on the side to the tire).
  
• Always get a maintenance agreement for regular rotation and balancing.

energy source of 0.078 quadrillion BTU (78,000,000,000,000 BTU) per year, since approximately 270 million tires are discarded each year with each tire weighing an average of 20 pounds. This is equivalent to 13 million barrels of crude oil.

In 2000, scrap-tire management systems captured more than 81 percent of the scrap tires generated in the United States, far exceeding the most recent available recovery rates of 62.5 percent for office paper, 63 percent for glass and 45 percent for aluminum cans.

Five percent are used to make various products for agriculture, industry, households and schools. Whole scrape tires are effectively used as breakwaters, tire reefs, crash barriers and playground equipment. (Pictured right). Click here to lean about the various ways tires are used at the "Oil End Game".

There is another good way to reuse scrap tires; that is simply to retread them. If the tire casing is still in good shape, a retreading company can effectively rebuild the tread and reuse the tire case numerous times. Click on this link to the Tire Retreading Industry Board #1 Source for Information About Tire Retreading and Repairing. In their data base you will also find a tire retreading center near you.