Bowie, Md. – The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has released another consumer education video in the “Tire Safety Starts with…” series. Tire Safety Starts with Tire Selection covers the basic guidelines that motorists should follow when selecting replacement tires. The video explains tire sizing and the importance of following the placard as well as the basic differences between all-season, summer, winter and all-terrain tires.
“The best practice for selecting replacement tires is to follow the information on the placard, so this will definitely help drivers understand what the numbers mean in the tire size,” remarked Freda Pratt-Boyer, TIA President. “It’s also important to know how to identify the different types of tires and the applications where they will deliver the best performance.”
Tire Safety Starts with Tire Selection introduces drivers to the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) standards and what is reflected by the treadwear, traction and temperature ratings. Most importantly, the video reinforces the need to install two new tires on the rear axle to prevent an over-steer condition and the loss of control on wet road surfaces.
“Drivers with front-wheel-drive vehicles are naturally resistant to installing two new tires on the rear axle,” said Kevin Rohlwing, TIA Senior Vice President of Training. “Hopefully the video will be enough to convince consumers that the industry practice of installing two new tires on the rear is in the best interest of safety for the driver and other motorists.
Tire Safety Starts with Selection is available on TIA’s YouTube channel and the www.tireindustry.org/consumer-safety. Retailers are encouraged to provide a link to the video or contact Donna Sage, TIA Director of Marketing and Communications, at dsage@tireindustry.org for a free download.