PHILADELPHIA– Recognizing that underinflated tires are a leading cause of dangerous tire blowouts, the Pep Boys have once again partnered with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) to promote consumer tire safety education during this week's National Tire Safety Week Apr. 20-26. During this weeklong event, Pep Boys will aid motorists in ensuring their tires are in safe, proper condition, offer drivers free tire air pressure checks, and distribute tire safety materials.

"Pep Boys continues to be a strong and active partner in tire safety education, which significantly advances our awareness efforts," said Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president, public affairs. "With millions of drivers on the road and nearly 3 trillion vehicle miles traveled each year in America, tire safety information is a critical step in helping drivers prevent accidents and injuries, maintain their vehicles properly, conserve fuel and, in turn, help the environment."

Pep Boys and the RMA recommend getting in the habit of taking five minutes every month to check your tires, including the spare. Here are some guidelines that motorists can follow:

Pressure

Underinflation can lead to tire failure. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, and possible loss of vehicle control or accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and still not appear to be flat. The best way to check tire pressure is with a properly working analog or digital tire gauge. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage up to 3.3 percent.

Alignment

A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw the front end out of alignment and damage your tires. Have a tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure the car is properly aligned.

Rotation

Regularly rotating vehicle tires helps provide more uniform wear. Unless the vehicle owner's manual has a specific recommendation, a good guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

Tread

Advanced or unusual wear can reduce the ability of the tire to grip the road. Visually check tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.