Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is teaming up with professional race driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. to share tire safety information during National Tire Safety Week May 24-30. The campaign—Know B4 U Go—is timed with the Memorial Day holiday, which is one of the busiest travel periods of the year when nearly 33 million U.S. drivers are expected to hit the road according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

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Professional driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. has teamed with Cooper Tire to raise awareness of tire safety. ...

Professional driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. has teamed with Cooper Tire to raise awareness of tire safety. National Tire Safety Week is May 24-30. More information is available at Coopertire.com. (Photo: Business Wire)

As part of the campaign, a special video hosted by Luyendyk provides a brief tutorial for drivers on how to check their tires before embarking on road trips this season. One of the most popular figures in racing, Luyendyk has made his mark at the Indy 500 and other premier venues and now races on Cooper tires in the exciting off-road TORC series. The tire safety video is available at http://us.coopertire.com/Tire-Safety/Tire-Safety-Week.aspx and focuses on three key aspects:

  • Tire pressure: Drivers are advised to check their tire pressure when tires are cool—at least three hours after the last time a vehicle has been driven—and to be sure they know the proper tire pressure for their vehicle. The correct tire pressure is not shown on the tire, but is listed in the car’s owner's manual, on the door jamb, or the glove box door. In the video, Luyendyk demonstrates how to use a tire pressure gauge to assure tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires lead to better control of the vehicle, improved fuel consumption and help avoid uneven tread wear.
  • Tread depth: Proper tread depth helps tires maintain traction, improve handling and prevent hydroplaning on wet roads. In the video, drivers are shown how to assess their tire’s tread depth using a common U.S. penny.
  • Tire condition: It’s important that tires are routinely checked for cuts, cracks, splits, punctures and bulges, which could cause tire failure. Luyendyk advises drivers to check the condition of their tires before every lengthy road trip and at least monthly.

“When I’m racing, I’m thinking about winning and all of the elements that must come together for me to cross the finish line first,” Luyendyk said. “But winning isn’t all that’s on my mind. I’m also concerned about safety and I make it a priority. Everyday drivers also need to make safety number one as they travel. Tires are the only thing between your vehicle and the road, so it’s critical that they are properly maintained. I’m excited to team with Cooper to put a focus on tire safety as millions of Americans get ready to hit the road this season,” Luyendyk added.

“Summer road trips are one of the great joys in life,” said Mike Simon, Cooper’s Vice President of Marketing. “We want them to be about fun and adventure and not have trips spoiled by incidents that could have been prevented by proper tire maintenance. As a professional driver, Arie is a great partner in our Know B4 U Go campaign and we appreciate the level of awareness he is helping us bring to the important tire safety tips every driver should know.”

In addition to the video, Cooper has developed a tire safety guide that illustrates the three critical aspects of tire inspection—tire pressure, tread depth and general condition. The guide is sized for auto glove boxes so drivers can keep the information at the ready during the summer road trip season. It can be downloaded at http://us.coopertire.com/Tire-Safety/Tire-Safety-Week.aspx.

Social media will be another major outreach tool in the campaign and drivers should watch for information and special giveaways on Cooper’s Facebook and Twitter channels at www.facebook.com/coopertire and www.twitter.com/coopertire using #CooperKnowB4UGo.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) is the parent company of a global family of companies that specialize in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of passenger car and light truck tires. Cooper and its subsidiaries also sell medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. Cooper's headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 11 countries around the world. For more information on Cooper, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.

About National Tire Safety Week

National Tire Safety Week is an initiative of the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s (RMA) “Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART” program, a year-round effort designed to help drivers learn the simple steps they can take to ensure that their tires are in good working condition. RMA is the national trade association for tire manufacturers. The Be Tire Smart program is funded by RMA’s tire manufacturer members. For more information on the Be Tire Smart Program and National Tire Safety Week visit www.betiresmart.org.