Cooper does its part for National Tire Safety Week

FINDLAY, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is joining with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and race driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. to share important information about tire safety during National Tire Safety Week May 24-30.

Cooper's safety campaign, “Know B4 You Go,” focuses on tire safety just as more than 33 million U.S. drivers—more than 1.3 million of them in Ohio alone—are expected to take long-distance car trips during Memorial Day weekend, the tire maker said.

Luyendyk, a well-known figure on the Indy 500 circuit who uses Cooper tires exclusively, narrates a Cooper-produced tire safety video on the importance of motorists checking tire inflation pressures, treadwear and general tire condition before going on a trip.

“When I'm racing, I'm thinking about winning and all of the elements that must come together for me to cross the finish line first,” Luyendyk said. “But winning isn't all that's on my mind.

“I'm also concerned about safety, and I make that a priority,” he said. “Everyday drivers also need to make safety number one as they travel. Tires are the only thing between your vehicle and the road, so it's critical that they are properly maintained.”

In addition to the video, Cooper has developed a tire safety guide that illustrates the three crucial aspects of tire inspection—inflation, tread depth and general condition.

Both the video and the guide can be found here..

Also, copies of the guide are available at all Ohio Tourist Information Centers at rest areas across the state. The information will also be available on the Facebook pages of Cooper, ODOT and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Cooper is a member of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the organization that began National Tire Safety Week in 2001. National Tire Safety Week is part of the RMA's “Be Tire Smart-Play Your P.A.R.T.” consumer information campaign.