(ARA) - You may not give a lot of thought to your tires, but consider this: The average area of the "footprint" of a tire in contact with the road is similar to the bottom of an average man's shoe sole - and the entire weight of your vehicle and its contents is supported by the tire and air inside the tire. Proper tire maintenance is an important safety function, but it is often neglected.

Whether you drive a performance car, family car, light truck, SUV, minivan, XUV, motorcycle, RV or ambulance, there are simple safety precautions you can take to ensure your tires are ready for the road.

TireSafety.com, sponsored by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, provides all the information you need to make sure your tires are in good shape. Simply remember this three-word mantra: inflate, rotate, evaluate.

* Inflate -- The most important aspect of tire maintenance is proper inflation of your tires. The air pressure should be checked on all tires, including the spare, at least once a month - under normal tire operation, approximately 1 psi of tire pressure will escape every month. To help you remember, sign up for free monthly e-mail reminders from TireSafety.com.

Improper tire inflation pressure can cause severe internal tire damage, which can lead to sudden tire failure. Improper inflation can also result in rapid or irregular wear. Under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. Tires can be as much as 50 percent under inflated before it is visibly noticeable.

Check your tire pressure when the tires are cold (after the car has been parked for at least 3 hours, and follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire pressure for original vehicle tires in the owner's manual or on a placard on the inside of the driver's side door or in the glove box.

Proper inflation pressure is also essential for achieving maximum performance and mileage - under-inflated tires can increase your fuel costs by as much as 3 to 5 cents per gallon.

* Rotate -- Tire rotation is vital to achieving even tread wear and long tread life. Rotation is necessary because of the different wear characteristics of each wheel position on the vehicle. Rotate tires at the vehicle manufacturer's recommended intervals or at 5,000 to 7,000 miles if not specified. A healthy habit many people follow is to rotate their tires with every oil change.

* Evaluate - Get in the habit of routinely checking for signs of tread wear or damage. Visually inspect your tires for exposed tread bars, irregular shoulder wear and center wear and cuts and scrapes on the sidewall. To check the general wear of your tires, use the penny test: insert a penny into your tire tread with Lincoln's head facing upside down. If you can see the top of his head when the penny is in the tread, the tread is worn and the tire needs replacing.

For more information on tire safety, as well as step-by-step guidelines for checking tire pressure, rotating tires and tire maintenance, visit www.TireSafety.com.

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