Politifact Finds Obama's Tire-Inflation ClaimTrue

[jefferson_dem]

Politifact Finds Obama's Tire-Inflation ClaimTrue

August 05, 2008 10:05 PM

Our friends at Politifact have also looked into Sen. Barack Obama's claim about tire inflation and found it to be true -- not merely that car tune-ups and proper tire inflation will save millions of barrels of oil per year, but that it will save more energy than new off shore drilling would yield.

No one knows for sure, of course, which may be one of the reasons why our experts disagreed with Obama's claim that this conservation method would save more energy than new off shore drilling would yield.

But the salient point is that such measures are serious. Why the Republicans are mocking them at a time of energy crisis seems bizarre.

We're also reminded of this news from 1990:

"The Washington Times, September 14, 1990...The Bush administration yesterday launched an advertising blitz telling Americans they could fight oil shortages and high gas prices by conserving, while advising Congress there is no sign of price gouging by the oil industry and that gas prices are 'not unreasonable.' The slogan for the yearlong campaign, 'Do Your Part, Drive Smart,' tells consumers they can save more than 7 million gallons of gasoline a day if they keep their tires properly inflated, drive slower and join car pools.

Said Energy Secretary James D. Watkins: "The president has called upon Americans to do their part 'to conserve. Our intention is to give people simple steps they can take immediately and have direct impact on fuel savings."

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http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/politifact-find.html

The statement

"We could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tires and getting regular tune-ups."

Barack Obama on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 in Springfield, Mo.

Not overinflated (though it sounds like it)

True

Sen. Barack Obama injected a startling claim into the debate on energy, asserting in a Missouri town hall meeting that the country could save more gas from inflating its tires and tuning up its cars than would be gained from drilling more off its coasts.

“There are things that you can do individually, though, to save energy,” Obama said in the July 30, 2008, appearance. “Making sure your tires are properly inflated — simple thing. But we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tires, and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.”

Sen. John McCain and his allies — who advocate lifting the federal moratorium that bans drilling in some areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the U.S. coasts — immediately mocked Obama for the claim. The McCain campaign even offered to send “Obama Energy Plan” tire gauges to anyone who sent in a donation of $25 or more.

The McCain campaign’s assumption seemed to be that Obama’s claim was utterly implausible. And, we admit, it kind of sounds that way. But is it?

Under-inflated tires — to say nothing of poorly tuned cars — are actually a serious problem, as government agencies, industry groups, conservationists and outside experts have been saying for years. (The Obama campaign even cited a number of instances when prominent McCain supporters echoed the call for more public awareness about tire inflation.)

“A lot of people are driving around on severely under-inflated tires,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr., a spokesman for the American Automobile Association. “Try riding a bicycle with under-inflated tires. It’s hard for the human engine to push it ahead. Pump it up, it seems like you’re gliding on air.”

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But it’s clearly within the realm of possibility that tire inflation and tune-ups could save more than offshore drilling could produce. So we find Obama’s claim to be True.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/608/

[Heather MC]

1. I am aging my self but I remember Bush Seniors Commercial telling Americans

to drive 5 miles below the speed limit. I can't remember the Tire part but I am sure it was there
I was a kid at the time. I remember thinking what moron no one is going to drive slower.

[kitfalbo]

2. ABC

if you saw them this morning they implied it was false. Stated it would only be true if we all drove impala's with half inflated tires.

[Diamonique]

3. My dad told me that stuff about tire pressure many years ago when I bought my first car.

McCain has really jumped the shark on this one.

[FrenchieCat]

4. This should be getting tons of Recommends.

Because it only proves the ignorance of McCain and his tools.

[IndependentDem]

5. from DOT-- "fuel efficiency is reduced by one percent (1%) for every 3.3 (psi) of under-inflation"..

and that report was from 1978... current numbers are closer to one percent for every 2.96 psi of under-inflation... check out this article from the department of transportation.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings/TPMS_FMVSS_No138/part5.4.html