If you're traveling for the long holiday weekend, you have a million things to think about already, from getting that pumpkin pie baked and packed up to making sure you've got the baby's favorite stuffed toy packed (cause no one's getting any sleep if it's not). You might have to groom the dogs, stop the paper delivery, and get one more report done before you get going.
Even so, it's worth taking the time to inflate your tires.
First of all, it's the environmentally responsible thing to do. A report from Carnegie Mellon found that about 80% of cars on the road have under-inflated tires, and government figures tell us that this cuts down fuel efficiency by 3.3%. That's about an extra gallon and a half for each person driving over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house. With more than 43 million of us traveling this weekend, that's a lot of wasted fuel.
Second, it's the safe thing to do. Underinflated tires are more likely to skid and slower to stop when you put on the brakes. Nobody plans to have an accident this Thanksgiving, so don't take the chance.
Check your tire pressure when the tires are still cold and make sure they're inflated to the correct pressure before you start your long trip. It's a few extra minutes, but it's totally worth it!
