Bridgestone Reminds Parents to Check Tires During Baby Safety Month

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- September marks the return of Baby Safety Month and this year, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) wants to remind parents about the important role tires play in their family's safety. As the only part of a vehicle that touches the road, tires are a critical safety product that should be carefully researched and evaluated alongside other necessities such as cribs, car seats and vehicles.

"We know safety is a priority for parents, and we want to do our part to ensure tires top their list of considerations," said Philip Dobbs, chief marketing officer, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "We like to say safety is in the palm of a parent's hand because a tire's contact patch is about the size of an adult handprint. Something so small is carrying something so precious - which is why it's critical to choose the right tires and take good care of them."

An August survey, commissioned by Bridgestone and conducted online by Harris Poll among more than 2,000 U.S. drivers ages 18+, revealed only about three in five drivers (59 percent) know how to change a flat tire, and that number drops to 36 percent among women drivers.* In fact, 75 percent of women worry about losing control of their vehicle from a sudden flat tire, and 63 percent worry about being stranded if they get a flat.

"No parent wants to be stuck on the side of the road, especially when traveling with their kids," said Dobbs. "That's why we introduced our revolutionary DriveGuard tire line, engineered to go up to 50 miles at up to 50 miles per hour to safety after a puncture or a loss of pressure.** DriveGuard tires offer trusted performance when drivers need it most, giving parents peace of mind when they get behind the wheel."

To ensure tires are road-ready, Bridgestone offers the following tips that all drivers can use to practice proper care and maintenance:

    --  Inflate: Tire pressure should be checked at least once each month, as
        well as before long trips, using a tire pressure gauge. Tires can lose
        one psi (pound per square inch) per month under normal conditions.
    --  Rotate: Regular tire rotations also will help prevent irregular and
        premature wear. Tires should be rotated and balanced according to the
        vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, or approximately every 5,000
        miles.
    --  Evaluate: Routinely look for signs of tread wear or damage. Drivers
        should check tread depth to make sure their tires have enough traction
        to grip the road.

For more information about DriveGuard tires from Bridgestone, visit BridgestoneTire.com. Parents interested in tire safety information should go to TireSafety.com.

*Survey Methodology
The 2017 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Bridgestone between August 3-7, 2017 among 2,141 adults ages 18+, among whom 2,029 are drivers. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Rachel Withers, withersrachel@bfusa.com.

**At a maximum speed of up to 50 mph. Reparability depends on the tire damage, amount of pressure loss and vehicle operating conditions.

About Bridgestone Americas. Inc:
Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

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SOURCE Bridgestone Americas, Inc.