Bridgestone Survey Finds Americans Save Before They Spend on Summer Road Trip Travel

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fourth of July is a popular holiday for summer road travel. According to a survey* from Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone), nearly 90 percent of American adults will take a summer road trip (traveling more than 50 miles from home), and nearly one in five (18 percent) from that group who take summer road trips will travel for Independence Day.

The April 2015 survey, commissioned by Bridgestone and conducted online by Harris Poll among more than 2,000 U.S. adults, also revealed that those who take summer road trips save up more than $1,000 dollars per person on average before they hit the road. In total, U.S. adults save up a combined average of $221 billion for summer road trip vacations.**

"The survey shows that saving money is an important part of the American summer road trip experience," said Robert Saul, senior product manager, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "Choosing the right tires, like the fuel-efficient Ecopia tire line from Bridgestone, and performing proactive vehicle maintenance are two easy ways drivers can stretch their dollars further and ultimately log more miles on the road."

Most summer road trippers (94 percent) perform vehicle maintenance before embarking on their road trip. Those who do spend $127 on average preparing their vehicles, which totals an average of $25 billion.*** Of those who take summer road trips:

• 72 percent check the fluids
• 70 percent check tire pressure
• 59 percent change the oil

"It's great to see that summer road trippers take vehicle maintenance seriously," said Jamie Bullis, lead technician, Firestone Complete Auto Care and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) 2014 Technician of the Year. "Car and tire care is critical to getting there safely and avoiding issues along the way. And, it can help drivers save money in the long run."

Bridgestone is committed to creating innovative products that exceed customer expectations, like the new Ecopia EP422 Plus tire that is engineered to be more fuel efficient to give drivers an extra 20 miles per tank.**** The fuel savings offered by the Ecopia EP422 Plus tire contribute to the company's global goal to improve tire rolling resistance by 25 percent by 2020.

The Ecopia EP422 Plus tire from Bridgestone delivers dependable, all-season performance, confident handling and a comfortable ride that is backed by a 70,000 mile treadwear limited warranty. It is available in 43 sizes, ranging from 15" to 18" rim diameters, and is designed to fit many of the most popular coupes, sedans and wagons on the road today. The Ecopia EP422 Plus tire also fits select minivans.      

*Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Bridgestone from April 28-30, 2015 among 2,004 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,784 take summer road trips. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Rachel Withers, [email protected].

**Calculation based on U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 Census, which estimates there are 234.6 million adults ages 18+ residing in the United States: 234.6M x .89 take summer road trips; of these $1059 average saved for summer road trip vacation = $221B.

***Calculation based on U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 Census, which estimates there are 234.6 million adults ages 18+ residing in the United States: 234.6M x .89 take summer road trips x .94 perform vehicle maintenance before leaving; of these $127 average spent = %25B.

****Based on rolling resistance in lab testing comparing Ecopia EP422 Plus (215/60R16) to Firestone FR710 (215/60R16) when new. Extra 20 miles based on 400 miles per tank. Actual results may vary based on proper tire maintenance, vehicle, driving style and road conditions.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations; the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses; the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires, as well as retreads, to its customers in the Americas.

About Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC:
Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ill., and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus™, Hibdon Tires Plus, Michel Tires Plus and Wheel Works store locations. Credit First National Association and Firestone Complete Fleet Care™ operations are also part of BSRO. BSRO is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.

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SOURCE Bridgestone Americas