tiresentry

Volvo, Michelin offer Good Advice

ftcfleet — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:16:49 +0000

Volvo and Michelin advises that you can make a drastic cut in your energy consumption by employing tire pressure monitors on your trucks and trailers. As yet another study has shown, a few simple actions like this can save you big money at the pump and deliver significant improvements in your vehicle’s fuel economy.

That’s especially true for drivers of trucks and big rigs.

The right wheel alignment and tire pressure can cut a truck’s fuel consumption by as much as 3% and reduce its carbon emissions by nearly 15 percent, according to research from Volvo Trucks and Michelin. In doing so, those changes can also save a truck-driver as much as $10,356 per vehicle per year.

“There is still some lack of awareness in the transport industry about the importance of keeping tires properly inflated on both the truck and the trailer,” said a manager for Volvo Trucks’ Aftermarket Department, adding that haulage companies could make a big difference by checking trucks for tire problems and correcting them. “If everyone did this, it would have a significant impact on carbon dioxide emissions.”

Now you can monitor your tires for loss of pressure 24/7 using state of the art technology. The Tire Sentry advanced wireless tire pressure monitoring systems, (TPMS) has been honored with many industry awards, and is a product designed and built in the USA. - Tire Sentry

The bestselling cars and trucks of 2011

ftcfleet — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:04:56 +0000

10. Ram pickup
Spun off from Dodge, Ram pickups stand on their own now.

9. Chevrolet Cruze
Chevy’s new small car has strong sales momentum.

8. Toyota Corolla
Corolla is down 11% this year amid tougher small car competition and dealer shortages.

7. Honda Accord
The only Honda model still in the top 10 due to inventory shortages.

Ford Fusion

6. Ford Fusion
Ford’s mid-size sedans have led a product revolution at Ford.

5. Ford Escape
Escape sales stayed strong, even with a redesign on the way for 2012.

4. Nissan Altima
Nissan’s mid-sized sedan shot up the list as other Japanese makers struggled.

Toyota Camry

3. Toyota Camry
Camry is still the nation’s best-selling car, and a redesign is coming for2012 .

2. Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Chevy pickups are overdue for an update, but still selling well.

1. Ford F-150 pickup
Ford’s workhorse pickups are the perennial best seller.

Winter Driving Tips

ftcfleet — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:14:05 +0000

Information you need to know

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. For more information on winter driving, the association offers the How to Go on Ice and Snow brochure, available through most AAA offices. Contact your local AAA representative for more information.

AAA recommends the following winter driving tips:

Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
Always look and steer where you want to go.
Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Tips for long-distance winter trips:

Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition by having it inspected by a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility.
Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times.
Pack a cellular telephone with your local AAA’s telephone number, plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.
If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
Don’t over exert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps.
If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.

Tips for driving in the snow:

Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors. – Information Source AAA

Car Safety – Tip of the Week

ftcfleet — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:05:25 +0000

By Stephanie Rogers

Driving a car becomes so automatic after a while, it’s easy to let safety fall through the cracks. But even if you’ve never been in an accident before, you shouldn’t lull yourself into a false sense of security, failing to perform basic safety precautions that could save your own life, or those of your passengers, in a collision. These car safety tips can reduce your risk of getting into an accident and help you manage small emergencies like a flat tire.

1. Wear your seat belt properly.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 15,000 lives are saved every year because drivers and passengers are wearing seat belts when they get into an accident. Seat belts keep the vehicle’s occupants inside the car during a collision, restrain the strongest parts of the body, spread out force from the collision, protect the brain and spinal cord and help the body slow down after impact, reducing injuries. In order for a seat belt to be effective, however, it must be worn properly. Ensure that the shoulder belt rests across your chest and shoulders — never across your neck. Don’t place the seat belt under your arms or behind your back. The lap belt should fit snugly over the hips. Seat belt extenders can be purchased for larger-sized drivers and passengers that maintain safety while increasing comfort.

2. Ensure that car seats and boosters are properly installed.Children and babies need special protection in the car to prevent serious injuries and fatalities in an auto collision. The N.H.T.S.A. recommends that children be securely buckled into a car seat that is appropriate for the child’s age, height and weight. From birth to 12 months, babies should always ride in a rear-facing car seat; children aged 1-3 years should remain rear-facing until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by car seat manufacturers. From ages 4-7 years, children should be strapped into a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they outgrow it, and then move up to a booster seat until they are grown enough to safely use an adult seat belt. Keep children in the backseat at least through age 12. Always refer to the car seat manufacturer’s instructions to install a car seat, or better yet, have it properly installed at your local fire station. You can find additional child car seat inspection stations at the N.H.T.S.A. website.

3. Never text while driving.How dangerous is it to be distracted by the act of composing, sending or reading text messages while behind the wheel? Car and Driver Magazine conducted a test that evaluated drivers’ reaction times to brake lights while attempting to text on their cell phones, and compared them to those of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent, the legal driving limit. Driving 70 miles per hour in a straight line, it took an unimpaired driver .54 seconds to brake while a legally drunk driver needed an additional four feet. But when the driver was sending a text, an additional 70 feet were needed to come to a stop. Another study found that texting while driving was the likely cause of more than 16,000 road fatalities between 2002 and 2007.

4. Don’t try to multitask – put down the food, makeup and other distractions while driving.While text messages have a dramatic effect on a driver’s ability to stay safe on the road, other distractions take their toll as well. Talking on a cell phone, eating, use of in-vehicle technologies like navigation systems and other visual, manual and cognitive distractions take the driver’s eyes, hands and attention from the task of driving. Try to perform activities like setting your vehicle’s route, selecting music and making cell phone calls before you begin to drive, and pull over to handle distractions like fights between children.

5. Be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.
Roads aren’t just for four-wheeled motor vehicles; even in remote rural areas, there may be pedestrians and bicyclists that aren’t visible to drivers until they get too close. Always maintain safe speeds and take extra caution when going around blind curves or over hills. Be watchful for pedestrians crossing the road at intersections, especially when turning right, and give cyclists at least half a car’s width when passing.

Because motorcycles don’t have seat belts, it’s all too easy for motorcycle drivers and passengers to be severely injured or killed in a crash. Motorcycle drivers should avoid the blind spots of trucks and be extra cautious of other vehicles on the road. Of course, helmets are a necessity for motorcycle drivers and passengers. Drivers of other vehicles should never pass a motorcycle too close, as a blast of air from the car can cause a motorcycle to lose stability.

6. Pack a climate-appropriate emergency kit.Roadside emergencies can happen at any time, and drivers should be prepared with supplies that can aid in getting help, making minor repairs and signaling your vehicle’s presence to other drivers.Consumer Reports recommends a basic kit containing a cell phone, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, hazard triangle, tire gauge, jack and lug wrench, foam tire sealant or plug kit, spare fuses, jumper cables, flashlight, gloves, rags, pen and paper, disposable flash camera, $20 in small bills and change and an auto-club or roadside assistance card. You may also want to consider extra clothing, water and nonperishable emergency food. In cold, snowy conditions, a windshield scraper, tire chains and tow strap, blanket, chemical hand warmers, small folding shovel and a bag of cat litter (for traction on slick surfaces) can come in handy. You can purchase pre-assembled roadside safety kits and augment them with items that suit your needs.

Driving News – Tip of the Week

ftcfleet — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:37:11 +0000

Tip of the Week

With temperatures dropping and school back in full swing, now is the time to get your car ready for cooler weather. Here’s why the fall and winter can be so demanding on your tires, and how to stay safe throughout the seasons:

- Recover from summer: Following the busy summer driving season and numerous road trips, your tires may be a little tired. A study conducted by Hankook Tire America Corp found that 70 percent of Americans planned to take a road trip this past summer, with the average American logging approximately 725 miles on their vehicle. With increased wear and tear on your tires as a result of summer trips, the tread depth may not be what it used to be. Tires with unsatisfactory tread depth decrease the tire’s traction in various road conditions and can potentially put you and your passengers at risk. Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. You can easily check your tires’ tread once a month by using the quarter test – place a quarter, head down into the tread of the tire. If George Washington’s entire head is showing, your tread is too low.

- Air ‘em up: Did you know tire pressure changes as the outdoor temperature does? For every 10degree change in temperature, your tires lose or gain 1 to 2 pounds of pressure, meaning as the hot summer weather gives way to a cooler fall, your tires will be losing air pressure. Add foliage, rain and slick driving conditions to the mix and it is even more essential to have the right tire pressure. Proper inflation maintains an even contact pressure of the tread to the road offering the performance the tire was designed to provide, while at the same time helping to prevent uneven wear. Proper inflation also reduces rolling resistance and quickly discharges heat that is generated. The correct tire inflation pressure for your vehicle can be found in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. While correct tire inflation is key to performance, it is also important to remember to not overinflate your tires. When tires are overinflated, they are more susceptible to road hazards and damage.

- Be safe … and save: Trips to college homecoming festivities, football games and Thanksgiving gatherings can also translate into some serious mileage on your vehicle’s tires. If you’re ready to replace your tires, choose an all-season tire. By minimizing wasted energy and improving fuel efficiency, lower rolling resistance tires can save you gas and money, while keeping the kids safe. source - ARA

Seasonal Driving – Fall Driving Advice

ftcfleet — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:28:27 +0000

The overcast and rainy days of fall can increase stopping distance by up to four times on wet roads. Low tread can cause your vehicle to hydroplane — surf — on a film of water, reducing traction. Be sure your wheels are aligned and tires rotated (at least every 6,000 miles or as stated in your vehicle owner’s manual or by the tire manufacturer). Your tire service dealer can help you with this.

• Don’t overload your car beyond the rated tire load capacity — you and your luggage add to the overall vehicle weight. Check the door placard or owner’s manual for recommended weight.

• Check the alignment and have your wheels rotated. Unbalanced tires or misalignment can cause uneven wear, serious vibrations on the highway, or vehicle stability problems.

• Check tire pressure,including the spare, before a long trip and monthly. Always check tire pressure when the tires are “cold” — they have not been driven for three hours or more.

Both overinflation and underinflation are bad for your tires — inflate cold tires to the recommended pressures found on the tire sidwall or driver door placard.

Before a trip, check the tread on your tires to make sure they have plenty of tread.

Heat changes tire pressure

ftcfleet — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:33:03 +0000

Q. I put air in my tires yesterday and had all the tires at the same pressure. My question is that if the tires are in direct sunlight, will that increase tire pressure? I have two tires that were in the shade and two tires in the sun. The tires that were in the shade were the same pressure that I had filled them up with. The two tires in the shade were 1½ pounds heavier. Is that because of the sun hitting the tires?

A. Temperature has a big affect on the air pressure in tires, so what happened to you makes sense. The sun heated up the tires on that side of the car and the tire pressure went up. When you check the tire pressure you always want to set it first thing in the morning to the cold tire pressure, as the day warms up the tire pressure will go up.

Tires have to be checked periodically, especially when we go through a change of season, which we’ll be doing soon. As colder weather sets in, you could see the tire pressure drop by as much as 5 pounds per square inch.

Don’t forget, low tire pressure is a big drag on fuel economy, so it’s good that you are keeping them set properly.

Fall maintenance

It may be starting to cool down a little as we head into the fall season, but that means things will be heating up on the roads in terms of more traffic. Make sure to pay attention for more activity from student drivers, buses and pedestrian traffic.

It’s also a good time to pay attention to unperformed maintenance on your own car or truck. Be sure that all lights re operational as well as mirrors for proper visibility. This hot summer may have taken a toll on other components of your vehicle so be sure to have a shop inspection as we head toward winter.

Check the spare

When was the last time you checked your spare tire, or checked to see if the jack and lug wrench is in the car and if it works. You would not want to find out that the tire is flat or the jack is missing the day you need it. Preventive maintenance will always save you time and money in the long run.

Source: Douglas Automotive
For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.

Heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency standards unveiled

ftcfleet — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:50:22 +0000

Transportation Industry News August 9, 2011

Heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency standards unveiled

The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the standards in close coordination with the companies that met with President Obama as well as other stakeholders, following requests from companies to develop the new national fuel efficiency program.

Under the comprehensive new program, Trucks and Buses built in 2014 through 2018 will reduce consumption by a projected 530 million barrels and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by approximately 270 million metric tons.

This program — which relies heavily on off-the-shelf technologies — was developed in coordination with truck and engine manufacturers, fleet owners, the State of California, environmental groups and other stakeholders.

The joint U.S. DOT/EPA program will include a range of targets, which are specific to the diverse vehicle types and purposes. Vehicles are divided into three major categories: combination tractors (semi-trucks), heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and vocational vehicles (like transit buses and refuse trucks). Within each of those categories, even more specific targets are laid out based on the design and purpose of the vehicle. This flexible structure allows serious but achievable fuel efficiency improvement goals charted for each year and for each vehicle category and type.

The standards are expected to yield an estimated $50 billion in net benefits over the life of model year 2014 to 2018 vehicles and result in significant long-term savings for vehicle owners and operators.

By the 2018 model year, the program is expected to achieve significant savings relative to current levels, across vehicle types. Certain combination tractors — commonly known as big-rigs or semi-trucks — will be required to achieve up to approximately 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2018, saving up to four gallons of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.

Vocational vehicles — including Delivery Trucks, Buses, and Garbage Trucks — will be required to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10 percent by model year 2018. These trucks could save an average of one gallon of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.

For heavy-duty Pickup Trucks and Vans, separate standards are required for gasoline-powered and diesel trucks. These vehicles will be required to achieve up to approximately 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2018. Under the finalized standards a typical gasoline- or diesel-powered heavy-duty pickup truck or van could save one gallon of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.

Beyond the direct benefits to businesses that own and operate these vehicles, the program will also benefit consumers and businesses by reducing costs for transporting goods and spur growth in the clean energy sector by fostering innovative technologies and providing regulatory certainty for manufacturers.

New Release – Cornell University

ftcfleet — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) market is expected to be some 160 million units by 2014.

R&D News

Tire Safety

ftcfleet — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:21:51 +0000

Bridgestone is pleased to present TireSafety.com in the interest of public safety.

Proper tire maintenance is an important safety function often neglected. The importance of properly maintaining your tires cannot be overemphasized. Remember, tires are the only contact between your vehicle and the road.

Under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. Using the interactive tire pressure demo you can easily see
how a tire can be as much as 50% under inflated before it is visibly noticeable. Not only are under inflated tires more prone to damage and failure, but they can lead to higher fuel costs by as much as 3 to 5¢ per gallon.

Be sure to sign up for free monthly email reminders to check your air pressure, if you haven’t already. As you make your way through the site you’ll find a wealth of information on tire construction, sizes, classifications, replacement, driving tips and most importantly, proper tire maintenance.

Tire Rolling Resistance

ftcfleet — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:09:38 +0000

Tire Rolling Resistance

An average truck travels 125,000 miles per year. At diesel prices of $3.50 per gallon, and an optimistic average of 6 miles per gallon, it costs $72,915.00 to fuel that truck each year. A 1.0% loss is $729.00 wasted due to the increased rolling resistance of under-inflated tires. Source: Air Chex Corp

28 million vehicles have one bald tire

ftcfleet — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:46:43 +0000

Some 28 million vehicles are riding around on at least one bald tire, according to a recent Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) survey.

The survey also shows that 64% of motorists do not know how to tell if a tire is bald. Nine percent, according to the RMA, never check their tires’ tread depth.

An RMA survey from earlier this year revealed that only 17% of vehicles had four properly inflated tires, 55% of vehicles had at least one under-inflated tire, and 15% of vehicles had at least one tire that was under-inflated by eight psi.

Spare the donuts? Spare tires are becoming less popular

ftcfleet — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:27:18 +0000

Spare the donuts? Spare tires are becoming less popular

Jul 5, 2011 8:30 AM

Fun fact: did you know we typically test over 80 new cars and trucks every year? And over time we’ve noticed that full-sized spare tires were going the way of the VCR, replaced with temporary spare tires–commonly called “donuts.”

Aside from the fairly obvious smaller appearance, you can also identify a temporary spare by the “T” designation that appears in front of the size shown on the sidewall of the tire.

These diminutive tires operate at higher pressure to provide the load capacity of a full-sized tire. They save room and more importantly save some weight, which helps improve a vehicle’s overall fuel economy.

But now we’re seeing the days of the temporary tire dwindling, with more cars eliminating the spare altogether (along with the tools to change a spare).

So what’s a motorist to do? To deal with the “spareless” car, manufacturers are equipping some models with run-flat tires, which when deflated offer limited mobility–typically 50 miles at speeds less than 55 mph. BMW, for example, has been a big proponent of run-flat tires. We also see these types on sporty cars with limited space. We’ve written extensively about Toyota Sienna AWD models using run-flats as well. Early generations of run-flat tires rode stiffly and wore-out quickly. They’ve gotten better, but if your car has run-flats, your replacement tire choice might be limited. Plus, run-flats often cost more than conventional tires.

The other approach manufacturers have taken is to equip cars with a tire repair kit consisting of an air compressor and a canister of sealant.

We started seeing tire sealant kits on some on low-volume cars like Lotus Elise, Pontiac Solstice, and Smart ForTwo–all smaller cars with very limited room. Now we are seeing some more mainstream models come equipped with the space-and-weight-saving sealant kit including Cadillac CTS and SRX, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Elantra, Saab 9-5, and Volvo S60 and C70, to name a few. So it seems as if the tire repair kit isn’t limited to cars with space restrictions any more.

Looking back, we found that only 16 percent all of cars tested since 2005 came with a full-size spare. And few of these cars and trucks actually had an identical replacement; often it was a spare tire on a cheap non-alloy spare wheel or even a different model and size tire than what came on the car. Temporary spare tires account for about 75 percent of the cars we’ve tested during that time, and that includes a small number of collapsible spare tires that have a compressor to inflate prior to installing on the car. With a full-size or temporary spare, all the cars get a jack and hand tools.

Run-flat tires only account for about 4.5 percent the cars we tested.

About 4.5 percent of our tested cars came with a tire repair kit, which works fine if you have the classical small nail puncture in the tread. But if you’re like us, we find most of our flats are caused by sidewall cuts from pothole or curb damage. If this happens to you, then you are out of luck and will need to have a cell phone handy to call a tow truck. (Read about our recent experience: “Hyundai Elantra leaves me flat.”)

Finally, it’s always good to have a roadside emergency plan in place just in case.

Familiarize yourself with what comes with your car: spare tire, tool kit, repair kit, or run-flat tires. Also, if you’re buying a new car, ask if it comes with a spare. Sometimes a spare tire/tool kit can be purchased as a dealer option if your car doesn’t have one as standard equipment. Knowing what your car has beforehand can help you plan accordingly, including bringing your own emergency kit.

Read our take on preparing for a roadside emergency.

—Gene Petersen
ConsumerReports.org

Green Tires Will Get You Further – Fueling Up for the Fourth?

ftcfleet — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:36:39 +0000

Conserve gas and save cash with these holiday driving tips

PITTSBURGH, June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — As Americans across the country hit the road for the Fourth of Julyweekend, many families are struggling to deal with the burden of high fuel prices. One key tip is often left off fuel-saving checklists: buying the right tires can significantly improve a car’s fuel efficiency.

Most new cars sold today come with fuel-efficient, or “green,” tires in order to help them meet national fuel-efficiency standards, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards. These tires have low rolling resistance because they are made from a special combination of rubbers that reduces the amount of friction between the tire and the road, which is directly related to improved fuel efficiency. Reducing friction is an effective method of saving gas without sacrificing safety.

However, when their original tires wear out, many consumers replace fuel-efficient tires with lower-quality models, reducing the number of miles per gallon their cars can achieve. And as a result, they use more gas, which costs more money and is harmful to the environment.

“Buying green tires is an easy way to make sure that your car is as fuel efficient as possible,” says Randy Dearth, CEO of LANXESS Corporation, which makes the advanced rubbers used in many green tires. “Green tires may cost a little more up front, but they’ll quickly save you money at the pump.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently working on a new standard consumer-friendly label that will help people quickly and easily compare the fuel efficiency of tires from different manufacturers. In the meantime, consumers should ask their local auto parts salesperson about each tire’s rolling resistance and fuel efficiency so that they can make an informed choice, save money and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Of course, drivers who are not looking to replace their vehicles’ tires can also take measures to improve overall fuel efficiency. Some of the most effective ways to boost fuel efficiency are:

Keep tires properly inflated. Proper inflation is vital to getting the most miles per gallon out of your car. An under-inflated tire creates more friction with the road, forcing your car to use more gas to propel it forward.
Lighten your car’s weight. Especially while travelling long distances, a vehicle’s weight has a significant effect on fuel efficiency. Every additional 100 pounds your car carries increases energy consumption by one to two percent.
Tighten your fuel cap. Experts estimate this simple measure to ensure gas does not evaporate as you drive equates to saving three to six cents per gallon.
Align your wheels. Improper wheel alignment causes a car’s tires to wear out more quickly and forces the engine to work harder, which can reduce gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

About Green Tires: Conserve gas, save cash

Green Tires: Conserve gas, save cash is an educational campaign designed to help U.S. consumers and policy makers understand the role that fuel-efficient tires can play in saving money, protecting our environment and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. This initiative is spearheaded by LANXESS Corporation. For more information about the campaign, please contact Julia Louise Krahe at jkrahe@clsdc.com or 202-777-3511.

About LANXESS

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 15,500 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.

Forward-Looking Statements.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

SOURCE LANXESS Corporation

Tire Care News – CONSUMER ALERT

ftcfleet — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:18:10 +0000

Beware of False Promises

Tire News Media Group, Jim Anderson

Several of the TPMS on the market today advertise “real time” functioning of their systems, suggesting up to the minute sensing for loss of tire pressure.

When actually they only “sample” pressures every few minutes (4 to 18 minutes), and only when the wheels are rotating.

This is the result of trying to conserve battery power of sensors that have non-replaceable batteries. This leads to the possibilities of not getting an up to date pressure reading until getting on the road again after an overnight stop. Additionally it also creates a situation where anything can happen between “sampling” periods.

True “real time” pressure monitoring is only possible with systems the monitor for pressure loss every second of the day or night, and not just when the wheels are rotating above a minimum RPM.