This week, June 2nd - 8th, is National Tire Safety Week.  Every year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encourages motorists to check their tires and educate themselves about tire safety. The importance of being "TireWise" is more critical than you might think. Over 10,000 tire-related crashes occur in the US every year and nearly 200 people die as a result.  Aside from the "life and death" stakes, Americans add almost 3 billion (yes, billion) miles to their tires each year and proper maintenance can extend the life of tires by 4,700 miles. NHTSA recommends car owners follow the following steps:

• buy the proper tires for your vehicle
• check tire pressure and wear regularly, performing maintenance as needed
• replace aging tires
• stay informed about tire recalls (sign up to be notified of tire recalls here)