NASHVILLE, Tenn. – To raise awareness for proper tire care and maintenance, Nissan is celebrating National Tire Safety Week from May 29 to June 4 by reminding vehicle owners of the significant role tires play in keeping them safe on the road.

Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration1 indicates a tire that is 25 percent below its recommended pressure is almost three times more likely to be involved in a tire-related crash than a properly inflated tire. Low tire inflation also costs vehicle owners money over the long term in reduced fuel economy and premature tire wear.

“Checking tire pressure for just a few minutes each month can help protect your family, improve vehicle performance and lengthen the life of tires,” said Sarah Cardinali, senior manager, Product Safety, Nissan North America. “Our innovative Easy-Fill Tire Alert system helps drivers fill their tires to their recommended inflation rating with ease.”

To emphasize the importance for drivers to regularly inspect their motor vehicle tires, Nissan offers the following tire care and maintenance tips:

– Inspect visually. Regularly look for visual signs of potential tire issues which may include under-inflation, damage or uneven wear. Inspect tires before a long trip to help avoid unnecessary delays or expenses.
– Know your target. Find and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure, which is located in the vehicle’s driver-side door jam.
– Be temperature-conscious. Tire pressures fluctuate with temperature changes. Check pressures when tires are cold (in the morning) at least once a month and following significant changes in temperature. Use an easy-to-read digital gauge for accuracy. A digital readout is displayed in the center cluster of many Nissan models.
– Rotate and balance. Achieve maximum life and performance from tires by rotating them every 5,000-7,000 miles. Also, balance tires periodically to help minimize uneven wear and extend tread life.
– Don’t overload. Avoid loading tires past their recommended rating. Excessive weight can weaken tires and potentially lead to blowouts.
– Avoid obstructions. Steer clear of large potholes, curbs or other objects when possible to avoid potential tire damage.

Standard tire pressure monitoring systems on vehicles alert drivers when tire pressure is low. Auto care professionals caution that from one tire gauge to another, there can be a three or four pound difference in air pressure readings when refilling tires. Nissan’s easy-to-use technology, Easy-Fill Tire Alert, takes the guesswork out of filling tires to the correct pressure with a beep of the horn when proper pressure is reached.

If tire pressures drop to an unsafe level, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) alerts the driver with an alert in the gauge cluster. Once the driver stops to add air, the Easy-Fill Tire Alert system activates the vehicle’s four-way flashers to indicate that the tire is inflating, the horn then honks once to signal that the tire is at its recommended inflation level. If the driver continues to fill the tire with air, the horn honks twice to indicate over-inflation. Once air is let out of the tire, the horn chirps once more to indicate the correct pressure has been reached, making the whole process fast and easy, eliminating the need for hand-held tire pressure gauges.

“Since its introduction in 2013, more than 1 million Nissan vehicles equipped with Easy-Fill Tire Alert have been sold in the United States,” said Cardinali. “It is a staple technology in the Nissan product line-up focused on helping to give drivers more convenience and peace of mind when filling up their tires.”

First appearing on the Nissan Quest and nominated for an AOL Technology of the Year Award, Easy-Fill Tire Alert is now available on 11 Nissan models including Altima, LEAF, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest, Rogue, Sentra, TITAN, Versa and Versa Note.