2005/25
April 28, 2005

Canadians learning to love their tires, but common myths still abound according to new national survey

Results from the 2005 Canadian Consumer Tire Attitude Study Released During National Be Tire Smart Week (April 24-30, 2005)

Toronto April 28, 2005 – A new national survey has discovered a number of tire maintenance myths among Canadians, even though 96% of those surveyed said that maintaining their tires was important to them.

The 2005 Canadian Consumer Tire Attitude Study was conducted in February 2005 by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants on behalf of The Rubber Association of Canada and the Government of Canada.

The results are being released as part of National Be Tire Smart Week (April 24-30, 2005), an initiative sponsored by The Rubber Association of Canada and The Government of Canada.

"The survey results are very encouraging in that more Canadians now understand the improved safety and fuel efficiency benefits from taking care of their tires," said Glenn Maidment, President, The Rubber Association of Canada "The increase of people measuring their tire pressure every month is one of the most positive results in the survey."

Maidment points out two years ago only 39% of those surveyed said they measured their tire pressure each month. In 2005, that's up to 48%.

Be Tire Smart Week, and the ongoing Be Tire Smart—Play Your PART tire maintenance campaign, are aimed at increasing Canadians' understanding of the cost savings, safety and environmental benefits of proper tire inflation.

During Be Tire Smart Week, tire manufacturers and dealers and major Canadian retailers will distribute informational material to Canadian drivers to improve their customers' understanding of proper tire maintenance benefits.

"I encourage all Canadians to participate in Be Tire Smart Week and make their vehicles run more efficiently," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources. "Properly maintaining your tires is a simple and easy way to help contribute to the One-Tonne Challenge ¾ part of the Government of Canada's approach to help Canadians respond to climate change by reducing their individual greenhouse gas emissions."

Below are some simple actions to take to improve tire maintenance practices:

• Use a tire gauge to measure tire pressure as an underinflated tire cannot be detected visually.
• Check for the recommended tire pressure on the vehicle's information placard (often found on the driver's side door or doorframe), and not on the tire sidewall, which displays the maximum tire pressure.
• Measure tire pressure when tires are “cold”, that is when the car has been stationary for at least three hours or when it has been driven less than two kilometers.

To find out more about tire maintenance, visit www.betiresmart.ca.

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