2008 summer hot automotive spectacular

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2 Auto Supplement July 14, 2008

(ARA) - It’s summer, which means vacation time for millions of American families, piling the kids into the car and driving to a favorite getaway. But with soaring gas prices nearing $4 per gallon and beyond, many folks are checking their wallets instead of hotel reservations. This summer’s big outing may be reduced to a few trips to the mall.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There are proven ways to increase fuel economy and squeeze out more miles per tank. Auto experts suggest one solution is paying more attention to tires, those technologically advanced, but often forgotten objects that con-nect vehicles to the road. Simply spending five minutes a month checking a tire’s air pressure and keeping it properly inflated can save gas in the tank and a ton of money. Not to mention help protect the environment.

The Auto Club estimates that a motorist who drives an average of 12,000 miles annu-ally on tires that are underinflated by five to eight psi (pounds per square inch) is wasting up to 50 gallons of gasoline -- $192.50 (at $3.85 a gallon) a year. That’s close to the cost of a week’s worth of groceries ($226) for a family of four, according to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. If there are two drivers in the family, that total comes to $380, well over a week’s worth of food for the family.

According to Mark Chung of Yokohama Tire Corporation, which manufactures tires for passenger cars, SUVs, buses, trucks and airplanes, “Drivers across the country can fight rising gas prices by simply maintaining proper tire inflation. Tires that are underinflated by just six to seven psi can reduce vehicle fuel economy by as much as 2 percent and tire tread wear can also be reduced by as much as ten percent.”

Checking Your Tires to Save Money and the Environment

continued to page 4

Summer Summer Summer Automotive Spectacular!

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Great Automotive Deals Inside!

Automotive Tips!

Summer Savings!

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication

Melissa Miller, cover designMelissa Miller, page design

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TriState Pennysaver News109 South Street,

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July 14, 2008 Auto Supplement 3

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 66 million vehicles (37 million cars, 29 million pickup trucks/SUVs) have underinflated tires, which literally means more rubber is hitting the road and, accordingly, miles per gal-lon is lessened. “In fact,” Chung says, “tire experts speculate that 2.8 billion gallons of gas are wasted annually by U.S. drivers simply because they’re driving on underinflated tires.”

At today’s gas prices, 2.8 billion gallons of gas translates to a staggering $9.6 billion lost by consumers for having underinflated tires. That’s a lot of family summer vacations. “In addition, that same 2.8 billion gallons wasted result in 56 billion pounds of carbon dioxide released into the environment,” continues Chung. “We can all help prevent this by making sure our tires are properly inflated.”

“People can find the tire’s proper inflation level on the vehicle placard located in the driver side door jamb, in the glove box or in the owner’s manual,” Chung says. And while there are about 3,500 sizes and types of tires on the market, he has some simple tips to aid proper tire wear:

* Once a month, when the tires are cold -- at least 3 to 4 hours after the vehicle has been driven -- check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. (Normal driving causes tires to heat, which raises air pressure.) Be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep out dirt and seal against leakage.

* Tires should be rotated at least every 6 to 8 thousand miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to scrub, which lowers mile-age and causes unnecessary tire wear.

* An over-inflated tire changes the tires road contact area and increases wear on the center of the tread. A tire is designed to run with the vehicle’s weight spread correctly in the road contact zone.

* Consumers can go to (www.yokohamatire.com/csunderstand.asp) for additional tire care and safety tips or visit the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Web site at www.rma.org and AAA Club at www.aaa.com.

“With escalating fuel prices, drivers are going to focus on simple things, like proper tire pressure, to maximize tire performance, increase fuel economy and boost tread wear,” says Chung. “Keep your tires properly inflated and you’ll prevent your wallet from being deflated this summer.” Courtesy of ARAcontent

Checking Your Tires to Save Money and the Environment

continued from page 2

“We can all help prevent this by making sure our tires are properly inflated.”

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(MS) -- As oil prices continued to soar, U.S. motorists finally began to cut back on their reliance on fuel in early 2008. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, a 12-week period between November 2007 and February 2008 saw gasoline purchases decrease by 1.5 percent nationwide. As a point of reference, consid-er that gas consumption had increased by 1.4 percent each year since 2000, highlighting the growing concern over fuel costs and the efforts of many to make lifestyle changes that lessen their reliance on fuel. Such a trend is illustrated in the lessening demand for fuel since 2007.

A report from MasterCard Advisors shows that the demand for gasoline in the United States continues to decline as well. That report said that in the week ending February 15th the demand for gasoline had dropped 4.4 percent from the same period a year earlier. That indicated the largest one-week drop since December of 2007. While one might think a softer demand for gasoline would bring fuel prices down, the Energy Information Administration has suggested that is not the case, and expects prices to continue to increase in spite of the declining demand.

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(ARA) - With the weather warm and the sun shining, the open road is begging for travelers to get out and enjoy summer. Now is the per-fect time for you to get your tires and vehicle ready for long road trips.

When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your tires? Most people have never checked it, says Larry Wolf, an automotive technology program instructor at WyoTech in Fremont, Calif. He explains that most drivers are not aware of how often they need to be checking their tires. “The need for regular oil changes and annual tune-ups is pretty com-mon knowledge. But consumer knowledge about tire safety unfortunately remains low,” Wolf comments.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) found that 29 million drivers believe that tires require no regular maintenance. Wolf stresses that drivers should be checking their tire pressure regularly, approximately once a month.

“Driving around on under-inflated tires or worn tires can have serious consequences on your ability to control your car, especially in bad weather,” he says. Unfortunately, the

RMA also found that only 11 percent of drivers are correctly checking their tire pressure once a month.

“Essentially, under-inflated tires concentrate the weight of the car on the tread under the side-walls, instead of evenly distributing the car’s weight throughout the tire,” says Wolf. “What that means is that the sidewall is continuously being squished, and becomes very hot, posing additional risks to the car and driver. Eventually, a tire that is significantly under-inflated can blow out from the stress and heat that builds up”.

Currently, a tire under-inflated by 30 percent is the government’s minimum safety standard, under which vehicles are not considered safe to drive.

Over-inflation can be similarly dangerous, accord-ing to Steven Fernandez, an automotive technol-ogy program instructor at WyoTech. According to Fernandez, over-inflated tires prevent the car from maximizing tread contact with the road.

He suggests that in addition to a monthly check on tire pressure, you also give your tires a month-

Car Maintenance Tips for Summer Driving Conditions

Currently, a tire under-inflated by 30 percent is the government’s minimum safety standard, under which vehicles are not considered safe to drive. continued to page 7

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ly ‘glance over’ to look for other telltale signs of damage. Drivers should look for uneven wear patterns and examine tire sidewalls for cuts or bulging. “Uneven wear patterns could mean you are having alignment problems and may need to realign your steering wheel or replace suspension parts,” Fernandez says. “Bulging or cuts in sidewalls are also potentially dangerous, as they could lead to a tire blowout.”

You should also be checking the tread depth of your tires each month. “There are a number of easy ways to check tire tread, including inexpensive gauges or even just a ruler,” says Fernandez. The legal limit is set at 2/32-inches, but automobile experts universally agree that driving around on anything less than 3/32 inches is unsafe, especially in rainy conditions.

Aquaplaning, or hydroplaning as it is also called, is many drivers’ worst nightmare and it is a big concern during summer travel months. It happens when a car loses contact with the road due to pockets of water. Fernandez explains that the chance of hydroplaning is much more likely when tire tread is low. “Tire treads are grooves in the tire that help to disperse water and increase traction on the road. When they wear down, they aren’t able to redirect water nearly as effectively.” Too often, when drivers find themselves at the mercy of slippery weather conditions, it’s because their tires are not up to par.

Summer often means long road trips -- with the whole family, pets and lots of gear loaded into the vehicle. Drivers should always check their tire pressure before long trips with fully loaded vehicles. “A little tire maintenance now can help ensure a safe vacation down the road,” says Wolf. - Courtesy of ARAcontent

Car Maintenance Tips for Summer Driving Conditions

continued from page 6

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2000 Chevy Blazer 83,984 miles. U197591. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 9.9% for 48 mos. $9,162.00.

2004 Buick LeSabre Custom 69,331 miles. U220785. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 8.79% for 72 mos. $10,060.

2005 Buick Century 43,931 miles. U171405. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 8.78% for 72 mos. $12,186.

2004 Chevy Impala LS 65,019 miles. U434327. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 8.79% for 66 mos. $11,772.

2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 5,426 miles. U386708. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 8.79% for 75 mos. $26,345.

2008 Chevy HHR LT 15,452 miles. U533811. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 8.79% for 84 mos. $17,316.00

2001 Dodge Durango58,218 miles. U569379. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 9.99% for 48 mos. $9,203.

1996 Chevy K1500 61,078 miles. U193593. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 9.99% for 48 mos. $8,538.

2004 Cadillac DeVille 24,601 miles. P100398. $2000 Down cash or trade equity. 8.79% for 66 mos. $17,496.

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2008 summer hot automotive spectacular

Documents

underinflated tires

summer savings

auto supplement

lot of family summer

tires air pressure

automotive tips

auto experts

great automotive deals