Did you know 2/3 of female drivers have had a flat tire? But, while 82% of men know how to change it out, only 40% of women do? Did you know that 80% of women say they’d call someone to change a flat for them? In fact, the majority of women would rather scrub the toilet, wait in line at the DMV, or do their taxes than change a flat tire! These are all findings from surveys from Bridgestone and I must say “girl power” is sadly lacking in the flat tire department.
Bridgestone Drive & Learn Event
In response to situation such as this, the company organizes events throughout the year to educate women drivers on basic knowledge and maintenance of their cars. One such event was held this past summer during BlogHer ’14 and I was able to attend.
While the Drive and Learn event primarily focused on the new line of DriveGuard tires from Bridgestone, we also got some great tips on how to work with jumper cables, how to check and maintain proper air pressure in tires, and why information like this is so important. Check this out from mechanic, Amber Delp:
Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires Track Test
Of course, they didn’t take us to an empty lot turned test track for nothing. Typically, tires that you can drive on for a while when flat are known for a rough ride even during normal use. So, we were asked to take two laps around. One lap in a car with a couple flat DriveGuard tires and one with four full DriveGuard tires.
The ride and road noise seemed normal with these tires. With the flat tires, it was clear to tell that there was a bit more resistance on the car. But, I was still able to maneuver fine with the flats even on wet and gravel-covered surfaces. DriveGuard tires are supposed to allow you to drive up to 50 miles at mph so you can safely get to where you need to go to fix the issue.
We were first given a sample lap with a pro instructor and he told us to keep our eyes on the green cones. Those cones would draw our eyes and help with knowing when to turn as people tend to drive toward whatever they’re looking at. Most people at least. I misjudged so many of the turns it wasn’t even funny. Poor, poor cones I ran over, all hundred of them. (Okay, I am exaggerating a little.)
I think it’s wonderful that Bridgestone is being so proactive in getting these key car tips to women across the nation. I hope that many others will get the chance to experience a similar event near them. You can get refer to Firestone Complete Auto Care for more maintenance tips.
Oh, and yes that is me in the front-middle with two thumbs up in the photo below 😛
