Check tire pressure to reduce carbon pollution
When was the last time you checked your tire pressure? Keeping tires properly in-flated is one way you can help reduce carbon pollution and impact global warming.
Government studies show that as many as one-third of all cars on the road may have tires that are under-inflated. Even a lot of us who are concerned about keep-ing tires at the right pressure, may not know how to determine the right pressures. One study found that 90 percent of drivers are not checking or maintaining tire pressures properly.
Gas mileage can improve as much as 10 percent when you keep your tires inflated at recommended levels.
To make sure you are checking tire pressure properly, first, buy a good tire gauge. Dial or digital gauges are easiest to read. Next find the correct recom-mended pressure for your tires by looking on the metal label or sticker located in-side the frame of the driver's door, or in your car owner's manual. Check your tire pressure before you drive, while the air inside your tires is cool. Add air to any tire that is underinflated. Don't forget to replace any valve stem caps you removed while checking your tires.
Keeping tires inflated can save from one to three dollars or more per tank of gas. If you fill your tank once a week, the savings could add up to one-hundred-dollars a year. It's an easy way to have a real impact on global warming -- Each gallon of gas saved prevents 19 pounds of climate-changing carbon pollution from being emitted into the air.