TORONTO—Nearly every Canadian motorist agrees that proper tire inflation is important, but less than one-third actually check their tire pressures monthly, according to the latest survey from the Rubber Association of Canada.
The RAC released the survey results May 12 to kick off its annual “Be Tire Smart Week,” which focuses on educating the public about the necessity of proper tire care.
Ninety-six percent of the 1,002 Canadian motorists surveyed said proper tire inflation was important, but 69 percent said they did not check their tire pressures monthly, the survey demonstrated.
Of that 69 percent, 31 percent believed they needed to check tire pressures only when the tire appears underinflated, and 23 percent believed the tire pressure monitoring systems on their cars made tire pressure checks unnecessary, the RAC said.
Forty-five percent did not know they would find the proper tire pressures for their cars on the vehicle placards, and 65 percent were unaware that they should only check tire pressures when their tires are cold. Thirty-one percent thought the tire pressure molded on the sidewall was the recommended pressure, rather than the maximum pressure.
On the positive side, 69 percent of those surveyed had personal tire pressure gauges; 78 percent had their tires rotated in the past year; and 56 percent had their wheels aligned in the past year.
“These findings should be a wake-up call to Canadian motorists,” RAC President Glenn Maidment said in a press release. “Drivers can guarantee optimal tire performance, lower their fuel bills and protect the environment simply by learning a few tire inflation facts.”
Canada's “Be Tire Smart Week” is an offshoot of the Rubber Manufacturers Association's “National Tire Safety Week,” which is scheduled for June 1-7.