AKRON, Ohio, May 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Memorial Day Weekend is the proverbial kick-off to the summer travel season. But before motorists hit the road for their first summer road trip, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) is advising them to pay special attention to one of their cars' most important safety features—its tires.

To help educate consumers, Goodyear is encouraging drivers to check the inflation pressure and tread depth of their tires. The effort corresponds with National Tire Safety Week, held this year from May 24 - 30. This week-long awareness campaign highlights the basic steps drivers can and should take to ensure their tires are in good working condition.

Improper air pressure in tires can lead to a multitude of problems – from uneven and accelerated tire wear to structural damage. An underinflated tire also has the potential to affect tire performance, including a drop in fuel efficiency.

"As a vehicle's only point of contact with the road ahead, tires play an important role in both safety and performance," said Fred Thomas, Vice President of Goodyear Retail. "It only takes a few minutes for drivers to give their tires a checkup. And if they need assistance, their nearest Goodyear retail store will be happy to help."

Goodyear-owned retail outlets offer a service in which consumers can stop in without an appointment for a free tire check. This includes an inspection of the tread condition and tire inflation, with air added at no charge if the inflation level is down.

Goodyear recommends that motorists should check tire inflation at least monthly and before any long trip. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner's manual, not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall.

In addition to checking for proper inflation, a tire's tread depth is key to staying safe on the road. The "penny test" offers a quick and easy way to check: Simply take a penny and insert Lincoln's head upside down into the groove of the tire. If all of Lincoln's head is showing, it's time for new tires.

According to Thomas, choosing the right tire can help ensure safe driving, not only this summer, but year-round. And tires such as the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max feature a fuel-saving tread compound which can help save money at the pump.

Other Goodyear initiatives during National Tire Safety Week include:

• Goodyear Auto Service Center and Just Tires locations will distribute "Be Tire Smart, Play Your PART" consumer booklets. These guides stress the importance of inflation pressure, wheel alignment, tire rotation and visual checks of tire tread.
• On www.goodyear.com, visitors will find extensive information on tire care, product selection and more. The "Tire Care Toolkit" section contains advice on tire pressure and proper inflation, visual inspections, tire repairs, saving fuel and more.
• With their lighted message boards, Goodyear's famous blimps continue to spread the tire care message while in flight, urging consumers on the ground to check tire pressure and tread wear.
• Goodyear is also promoting the proper care and maintenance of tires through timely retail promotions. For more details, visit www.goodyearautoservice.com.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 67,000 people and manufactures its products in 50 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com.

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SOURCE Goodyear