Toronto, Ontario - With thousands of Canadians heading out on the highways for the Labour Day weekend, the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) is reminding drivers to make sure their vehicles are as fuel-efficient as possible by measuring their tire pressures.

Motorists who run their tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations can expect to save about two weeks’ worth of fuel annually, due to decreased rolling resistance. Fuel efficiency drops by about 1 per cent for every 5 per cent, or 2 psi, of under-inflation.

“Making sure your tires are always properly inflated is an easy way to achieve better fuel economy and lower harmful emissions,” said Glenn Maidment, President of RAC. “All that’s required is knowing a few simple procedures and measuring your tire pressures each month. It’s easy, it’s free and it can save you hundreds of dollars each year at the pump.”

RAC research suggests that only about a third of motorists check their tire pressure each month, and that nearly 70 per cent of vehicles on Canada’s roads each day have at least one tire that is over- or under-inflated by at least 10 per cent; 23 per cent have at least one tire under-inflated by more than 20 per cent.

To measure tire pressure accurately, RAC offers the following tips:

- Find the right inflation pressure for your tires on the vehicle’s placard, not on the tire sidewall. Check the owner’s manual for its exact location.

-Measure pressure when the tires are cold. If you have been driving, wait three hours before measuring the tires.

- Use a reliable tire gauge, not a visual inspection. Remove the valve stem cap, press the tire gauge onto the valve and take the pressure reading.

- Add air until the recommended pressure is achieved. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the centre of the valve and then measure the pressure again.

For more information, visit Be Tire Smart.