A nationwide study conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) found out that most motorists fail to check tire pressure properly and regularly. This causes a myriad of related problems including highway crashes, lower fuel economy, and faster tire wear. The study discovered that only 19% of drivers properly check the proper inflation pressure of their tires. To properly check tire pressure means to check them at least once a month before they have been driven for even a mile as well as inflating them to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure, not the figure listed on the tire’s sidewall.

Meanwhile, 28% of motorists have the wrong notion that the best time to check the tire’s pressure is when they are already warm after being driven for at least a few miles. Less than 50% of drivers know where to find the right tire pressure while 53% mistakenly assume that the figure on the tire’s sidewall is the correct tire pressure. Actually, the correct tire pressure can usually be found on the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. Furthermore, over 73% of motorists fail to check the pressure on their spare tires. Lastly, the study revealed that while three out of four drivers wash their cars every month, only one out of five correctly check their tire inflation pressure.

Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s statistics show that almost one out of three vehicles on the road has an under-inflated tire. Because of low tire pressure, thousands of crashes occur every year with an average of 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries. All this facts underscore the importance of properly inflated tires, that does not only ensure safety but also improve any vehicle’s fuel economy, and help tires last longer.