National Tire Safety Week runs from June 29 – July 4, 2026. This initiative is intended to educate consumers and motorists about tire care, safety, and maintenance, especially as the summer travel season heats up heading into the 4th of July holiday. AAA Western and Central New York is sharing information from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) to raise awareness.

Tires are one of the most important safety components of a car and the only part that touches the road and, as such, they are critical to road safety. That’s why tire care and maintenance should be a top priority for all motorists.

Today’s tires are made to perform better than ever before yet improperly maintained tires can put drivers at risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average, there are nearly 11,000 tire-related motor vehicle crashes each year, and more than 600 people will die in those crashes.

USTMA recommends drivers check tire pressure at least monthly, regularly check tire tread depth and ensure vehicle tires are rotated and properly aligned. According to USTMA, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) detect loss of inflation pressure and warn drivers when tires are 25% under inflated. For many vehicles, this warning may be too late to prevent damage.

AAA recommends the “upside-down coin trick”—simply place a coin into the tire tread—if part of the president’s head is covered by the tread, you’re good to go. If you can see his entire head, it’s time for a new tire. Proper maintenance and periodic inspections by a tire professional are essential for optimum performance and service life of tires and can help ensure lower overall environmental impacts.

To help motorists remember these important tire maintenance actions, USTMA encourages drivers to remember the acronym “P.A.R.T.”—Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, and Tread. Tire safety essentials are especially important this time of year as AAA expects a record 72.2 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more from home over the 4th of July holiday. 61.4 million of them will be driving to their destinations. AAA reminds travelers to have their vehicles looked over before any road trip.

USTMA and AAA are committed to helping consumers understand important facts about tire care and maintenance, especially as the summer travel season gets underway. Find a certified technician at www.AAA.com/AutoRepair.