Just Check It! Quiz

Introduction

How much do you know about proper tire care? Find out with our fun quiz!.

Are your tires over-inflated or running low on pressure? Test your knowledge and pick up some tires tips to save cash, keep your tires performing in top gear and do some good in the world. Kick the tires and start your engines now.

Quiz Questions and Answers

Q1: How much money can you save by checking your tire pressure monthly?

    1. $50 a year
    2. $100 a year
    3. Up to $200 a year

Answer 1: Up to $200 a year.

By checking your tires each month and keeping them properly inflated, you can save $100 to $200 a year in fuel costs.* In addition, proper tire maintenance will help your tires last longer, so you can replace them less often. At $200 to $2,000 a pop, that’s a lot of cash in your pocket.

*Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Q2: How often should you check your tire pressure?

  1. Once a month
  2. Once a year
  3. When you change your oil changed

Answer 2: Once a month.
And make sure tires are cool to the touch. Checking your tire pressure after you have been driving on them – even for a mile – will heat up the air inside and give you a false reading.

Q3: How do you know how much air to put in your tires?

  1. Eyeball it, if it looks low fill it up a bit
  2. Read the PSI printed on your tires
  3. Check the PSI on your driver’s-side door frame or owner’s manual

Answer 3: Check the PSI on your driver’s-side door frame or owner’s manual.
Tire pressure is specific to the car you drive. Check the sticker on the driver’s-side door frame, or look in the vehicle’s owner’s manual for the correct PSI level.

Q4:  Why should you always carry a penny in your vehicle?

  1. For good luck
  2. To patch a slow leak on your tire
  3. To check the tread depth of your tires

Answer 4: To check the tread depth of your tires. Test each tire’s tread depth monthly using the “Penny Test.” Insert a penny upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tire tread is too low!

Q5: What percentage of California cars have at least one under-inflated tire?

  1. 10%
  2. 60%
  3. 100%

Answer 5: 60%
According to a tire safety study conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association in June 2010, 60% of California vehicles tested had at least one under-inflated tire. That means more than 17 million vehicles* in California could potentially have at least one under-inflated tire.

*Source: 2010 RMA and 2008 CHP SWITRS data

Bonus Question: How much does it cost to put air in your tires when you buy gas?

  1. $1.00
  2. 50 cents
  3. 25 cents
  4. FREE

Answer to Bonus Question: FREE. In California, every gas station must provide FREE air to customers who purchase fuel. Even if the sign says it costs $1.00, just go into the station and tell them you want it for free!

What Have You Learned?

  • Keep your family safe.
  • Improve your gas mileage.
  • Extend the life of your tires.

How do you do it? It’s easy. Just check it! Your tire pressure that is …

Keeping your tires properly inflated:

  • Protects the environment.
  • Gives you peace of mind.
  • Saves you money…for more important things.

So just check it once a month.

You just got tire-care smart! CONGRATULATIONS!

For more information contact, the Office of Public Affairs, opa@calrecycle.ca.gov