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Michael Seredich
Dr. Sylvia E. White
Informative Speech
24 October 2011

General Tire Maintenance

Specific Purpose: I want to inform my audience how to perform

general maintenance on their vehicles tires.
Thesis: Tire maintenance is very important, for your safety and fuel
economy.
Introduction: Do you recall a time when your driving down the
highway and you see a car on the side of the road, jacked up with a
wheel missing? How about a time when youre getting on a curvy on
ramp and you witness a car backwards in a ditch. As you pass the
scene with the tow truck yanking the vehicle out, you wonder how that
even happened? You may say its not that even icy or wet out. Well,
these two examples could have been possibly avoided for the people if
they kept up with some general maintenance on their tires.
Body:
I. What does tire maintenance consist of on a vehicle, you may ask?
It mainly includes tire pressure, tread wear, and general looks of
the tire.
A. Remember when I mentioned the cars on the side of the

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road? More than likely, the individual probably had poor

tire inflation, improper tread wear or no tread at all.
1.
Tire inflation is very important, for your safety and
fuel economy. According to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (or NHTSA), proper tire
inflation could help save 50 to 80 lives and prevent
6,600 to 10,600 injuries a year. A recent article in
the Cleveland Plain Dealer also states proper tire
inflation can improve gas mileage by 3.3 percent.
This may not sound like much but the average
person who drives 12,000 miles yearly on underinflated tires uses about 144 extra gallons of gas, at
the cost of 400 to 600 dollars a year.
a) When tires are not inflated to the pounds per
square inch (or PSI) rating recommended by
manufacturers, they are less round and
require more energy to begin moving and to
maintain speed. Under-inflated tires also make
for longer stopping distances and will skid
longer on wet surfaces.
b) So how do you know what your tires pressure is
currently or what should it be set at? Simple,
every tire has a PSI rating on their sidewalls
(show picture slide 2), or you can find the
rating on the inside drive-side door (show

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picture slide 2). The average is around 32 to

35 PSI. Tire pressure gauges are used to check
your tires pressure. (show gauge)
(Demonstrate gauge) It is a very easy tool to
use. Make sure the measurement slide is all
the way pushed in. Next attach firmly to the
valve stem of the tire and read the PSI
measurement (show picture slide 3). Most gas
stations with air have these gauges attached to
their air lines so it is very simple to set your
tires correct PSI. Tires should always be check
while cold for accurate readings. Never exceed
max pressure listed on the tires sidewall, or a
blowout could occur. Under inflated tires also
cause 90 percent of tire blowouts according to
the department of transportation. Blowouts
are dangerous because they cause the driver
to loose control of the vehicle and/or roll over.
(show picture slide 4)
c) Tire pressure should be checked once a month
if not more frequently. On average you loose
1.5 pounds a month of pressure. About 85
percent of Americans do not check tire
pressure regularly. With 27 percent of

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Americans driving on un-inflated tires

according to National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). I am sure you could
waste those 600 dollars in plenty of other
2.

places.
While your down there checking your tire pressure,
consider checking your tire depth next.
a) As a tire wears its important to realize that the
tires ability to perform in rain and snow will be
reduced. Common sense right? Well, the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) reports showing that 9 percent of
passenger cars on U.S. roadways are driven
with at least one bald tire.
b) Checking your tire depth is a very simple
process and U.S. Coins can be used as gauges.
1) (First picture slide 5) shows a penny
being used to gauge a tire tread. If part
of Lincolns head is covered by the tread,
you have more than 2/32 of tread
remaining. This is the legal minimum
depth in Ohio. You will be hydroplaning
in wet conditions at high speeds and will
have no traction in snow what so ever.
2) (Second picture) shows a quarter being
used. If Washingtons head is covered by

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the tread, you have more than 4/32 of

tread depth remaining. This is the
minimum recommended depth to be
driving on safely.
3) (Third picture) shows a penny being used
but the backside instead. If the top of
the Lincoln Memorial is covered by the
tread, you have more than 6/32 of tread
depth remaining. This is safe and you
are good to go.
4) (show picture slide 5) If tires are wearing
unevenly you could have improper tire
pressure, or may be need in a
mechanical service, such as a tire
alignment.
5) Also at this time check for any bulges or
misshaping of the tire. If any,
immediately replace tire.
B. Conclusion: Once your tires check out, you can be at
ease on knowing your saving those 600 dollars on those
properly inflated tires. Your safety is greatly increased as
your tires ride smoothly over water and ice. Just remember
to check them at least once a month, and you wont be
that person in the ditch on the side of the road!