Edmunds.com Jumps on the Earth Day Band Wagon With Tire-Check Marathon

Edmunds.com Jumps on the Earth Day Band Wagon With Tire-Check Marathon

By Michelle Krebs April 22, 2009

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- On Earth Day, drive into a Santa Monica automotive business and get your tire pressure checked. The city is seeking the Guinness World Record for number of tires checked and properly filled in a day, and attempting to educate local residents about the importance of this simple task.

"Our studies show that a driver wastes $800 per year on fuel when driving on a severely under-inflated tire," reported Edmunds.com Senior Editor and "Green Team" committee member Joanne Helperin. "With approximately 250 million vehicles on the road in the United States, and a government estimate that the average vehicle tire is under-inflated by 26 percent, there is remarkable potential for saving billions of dollars and tons of fuel."

Tire pressure also affects vehicle safety, tire longevity and ride quality.

Edmunds.com is working with the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and 27 area businesses to check and properly inflate as many tires as possible, aiming to generate a new Guinness World Record.

"We're proud that the Santa Monica business community has come together to help educate local residents about the benefits of tire pressure checks," said Laurel Rosen, president and CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. "Everyone benefits when people work together to minimize our impact on the environment."

In recognition of Earth Day, Edmunds.com has identified 10 easy ways to "drive green," including:

-- Lay off the accelerator: The single most important way to save gas and reduce emissions is to avoid quick starts and ease up on the pedal.

-- Maintain your engine: Keep your engine tuned and replace your air and oil filters at regular intervals for maximum efficiency. You'll get better gas mileage, pollute less and breathe easier.

-- Consider how a vehicle is made: reward automotive businesses that use "green" materials and have made strides in greening their manufacturing facilities.

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.