Get Out and Pump 'Em Up!
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.12.07
Got students who are all revved up to do something this Earth Day 2007 to prove they’re not full of hot air? Well how about joining Pump ‘Em Up!, a campaign launched in 2001 by a then nine-year old Savannah Walters who read about plans to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, and learned that Americans could save as much oil as would be produced by the new drilling if they simply pumped up their car tires to the proper inflation levels. In fact, the US Energy Department has indicated that we’re wasting at least 4 million gallons of gas daily in America by not keeping them properly inflated.
To make checking tires simple she’s enlisted the help of volunteers to give out the free tire gauges generously donated by Sears, Firestone, Goodyear, and the Rubber Manufacturers Association to people across the country. She’s also gotten instructions for the project translated into other languages including Chinese, and aims to educate drivers around the world of the potential to conserve resources and protect our natural heritage by taking this simple step to stop wasting so much gas. She notes that not only will we save gas, but we’ll also be breathing cleaner air while working to fight global warming through lower emissions of CO2 at the same time. On top of all that, it’s estimated that Americans would also extend the life of their tires by about 25% and thereby save hundreds each year to go along with their gas savings. So if you’d like to get involved by hosting an event simply head to their website to download a flyer, and you’re on your way!
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Sounds like Michelin needs to get the Airless pressure tyre into shops - pronto!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqRJ9GfIJtI
The best time of the year is when its cold, your air pressure can drop about 5 PSI duiring the winter.
Hate to be the naysayer here, but... Miss Walters could probably save more fuel by convincing her parents to drive a Prius with flat tires than by putting a few extra PSI in that behemoth behind her.
Wait, no, I take it back. That wasn't naysaying, just a snyde remark. I think it is wonderful to see kids taking such initiative! She stands to do more for the environment in a year than I will in ten.
Well, a prius can't handle everything, buy the looks of the vehicle behind her I can tell tis a 3/4 ton and not a half ton (the 2 for the 2500 on the plastic door trim and the 8 lug nuts instead of 6) so its probably a tow vehicle rather than a family hauler.
We hit this issue now, need something new for my wife and the prius doesn't hav third row seating so we'll have to buy an SUV.
But my real reason for posting is what ever happened to all the air compressors at gas stations? I used to check my air every time I filled up and would top off my tires too, now I can't find a single gas station with an air compressor, free or put in the querters so I eneded up having to buy one but during the winter I rarely feel like going out in the cold to check my air pressure ad dragging out the compressor to fill my tires. It was a whole lot easier to do at the gas station since I was already out in the cold anyway plus the tires are then warmed up from driving so they are at the proper temperature.
Eugene, you have it backwards - you should check your tires when they are cold. Which means at the very least 3 hours parked. Checking your pressure when they are already warm from driving means you are actually driving around on underinflated tires all the time!
http://www.dunloptires.com/care/proper_inflation.html
Regardless of the vehicle, having properly inflated tires can save gas. Of course if everyone drove Yarises and Priuses things would be better, but in the meantime, it is possible at very little cost to make lots and lots of vehicle more efficient.
Way to go, Savannah!
Jesus, you don't need an SUV to get a third row of seats. SUVs are for off-roading. Get a van. Or a station wagon.
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If you want to save even more fuel, pump up your tires slightly past the rec'd tire pressures. You will, however, wear out the center of your tires a bit faster. That's not an issue for me since I live in an area with twisty roads (which wears the sides), so if you can do it, go for it!
Just checked our cars this weekend. BTW those cheap pencil tire gages arn't that good. For a few bucks more you can get a more accurate dial type gage. I have one that locks on the valve and then has a port to add more air and a vent button if you add too much.
[RANT]
Yarises and Priuses, don't be so Toyota centric, Honda has a better avarage fuel economy accross it's fleet. Of course Honda isn't busy pushing a big V8 full size just as craptastic MPG as Toyota is. Quit drinking Toyota Kool-Aid. My eyes were opened at the Chicago auto show, the Hybrids were off to the side and the Pickups took center stage at the Toyota display so I think my little rant here has merit. They might have had one Prius and 20 + pickups. They quietly dropped plans for hybrid trucks along the way too. You be the judge. [/RANT]
As to vehicle choices any small to mid-size car depending on needs if of course a better choice than an SUV or a pickup.
Hey, I think Honda is doing a good job too. I just mentioned Yarises and Priuses because that's the cars that came to mind..
But the Fit is pretty great, and the new Civic is also very nice.
"Jesus, you don't need an SUV to get a third row of seats. SUVs are for off-roading. Get a van. Or a station wagon."
Well an SUV gets better mileage than a full size van so that would be backwards and no current selling station wagons in the US have the third row seating.
Its funny how people say you need x instead of an SUV when it doesn't meet the needs. We have enough in the family now that we need that third row.
We do actually off road too, my parents have a farm in WV which we spend a lot of time on in the summer. They live off the paved road in a valley then you have to drive up the side of a mountain to get at the farm so its mild off roading but we tried the minivan route and destroyed it after just a couple trips.
I think most of us see SO MANY people with big SUVs that they don't need (at all) that we develop a certain reflex. But of course when a SUV is used for what it is designed for, there's no problem. Often better one SUV than two cars..
The problem is mostly cutting through the BS: Many people will use the argument above to claim that *they* are among those that need a huge vehicle when it's not true. It's pure rationalization...
If you need an SUV, get one. A hybrid one that gets "OK" gas mileage is better than a conventional one that gets horrible.
Save your old car for trips that don't need the third row though. Nothing bugs me more than one person driving a giant black (or whatever) behemoth like they own the road.
A lot of gas stations here in Minnesota have free air.
I applaud Savannah Walters for pointing out that the gas we waste dailly just driving around in vehicles with under-inflated tires is about equal to the output from the coastal Alaskan area that President Bush wants to open up to the oil companies. 4 million gallons a day wasted! Senator Kerry spoke of how in Japan and Germany exterior building lights and subway escalators have motion detectors so their not used unless necessary.