McCain Mocks Tire Inflation: I Guess He Doesn't Read Edmunds
Back in May, we instituted a company-wide experiment to see how much gas we could save if we properly inflated our tires. On average, our employees' tires were 7-percent under inflated, which is much better than the government's estimation of 26-percent under inflation for the average American. However, if the nearly 250 million registered passenger vehicles in the United States (according to a 2005 Department of Transportation study) were only 7 percent under inflated, and brought their tires up to the specified level, together they would save about $23 billion per year. Think about how much we could save if that 26-percent number was used.
Who would've thunk it possible that we here at Edmunds would be ahead of the political curve? When a woman at a town hall meeting asked Sen. Barack Obama about what sorts of steps normal Americans can take to lower their energy costs, he suggested making sure their tires are properly inflated. Within hours, the McCain campaign starting arguing that Obama's new energy plan amounted to nothing more than keeping your tires inflated and Sen. McCain himself mocked it as a ridiculous notion. The McCain campaign is even selling tire pressure gauges with "Obama's Energy Plan" written on them. Could they possibly get more snarky?
Of course, John McCain himself reversed his position on tire inflation two nights ago.
"I agree with the American Automobile Association," McCain said. "We should all inflate our tires. And I think the American Automobile Association is right, as well as others are. But the fact is, that doesn't serve as a plan for us to become independent on foreign oil ... Could I mention that Sen. Obama a couple of days ago said that we all ought to all inflate our tires and I don't disagree with that. But I also don't think that that's a way to become energy independent."
Let's put aside the validity of Obama's actual energy plan, and whether any of it is a good idea or not. To say that filling your tires is the only part of it is completely untrue. In fact, Obama's eight-page energy plan doesn't even mention properly filling your tires. I'd actually prefer if there were more items in his plan that talked about easy ways for average Americans to do their bit. Simple tasks like checking your tire pressure and turning off household lights and electronic devices add up, and it's the easiest way to cut our energy usage. It's just common sense and the McCain campaign is mocking it.
This isn't the thoughtful political exchange we were promised by both campaigns. Instead of constantly misrepresenting each other's positions and not completely listening to what people actually say (which drives me bloody insane), how about actually listening to and debating those positions? Well, because campaigns think Americans are too simple-minded to grasp nuance and complex problems. Therefore, they tout a simple-concept solution with questionable long-term effectiveness (drill for more oil!) and mock a practical suggestion that actually has the potential to save Americans money right now.
We deserve better, and please, go check your tires.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
- Posted by
- JRiz August 7, 2008, 11:31 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Fuel Economy, Maintenance, Tip of the Day
Well, James, that's a typical, reasonable Canadian (apply emphatic sarcastic derision) response. And I wouldn't expect anything less.
Real 'Mer'cans know better. If they'd just let us drive faster then we'd get where we're going that much sooner and that would mean the engine is running less and that would save, rough estimate, like, a ba-gillion dollars. Somewhere between a ba-gillion and a thousand anyway.
Its science, James. Maybe you should check it out.
Science doesn't seem to have a lot to do with politics these days. The Bush administration has proved that.
But at Edmunds we did prove (through science) that checking tire pressure is easy to do and saves money. Everyone understands money.
It's a horror what the push for ethanol has done... pushed up prices for so many corn-dependent products, including feed for animals (which raises the cost of meat). It's a chain reaction that seems to be endless.
I just wish there would be politicians who would speak the truth as it is!
For the record I was trying to be funny. It doesn't come across well when typed. Or I'm just not funny...probably the latter.
From Edmunds' own "We Test the Tips" article,
"Test #5 Check Your Tire Pressure
Result: Important for safety and to reduce tire wear
Cold Hard Facts: No measurable effect on the vehicles we tested
Recommendation: Check your tire pressure often but don't expect a big savings."
So which is it, no measureable effect or saving 23 billion dollars?