Sure, it's important to recognize Earth Day, but don't forget about the other 364 days of the year. With a little effort you can become an environmentally responsible driver year ‘round. Here are five suggestions from The Car Care Council and CarCare.org.

1) Drive Green

Your driving style has a lot to do with your fuel economy and how long your vehicle lasts. So, drive the speed limit and avoid sudden starts and stops. Jerky, aggressive driving not only decreases your gas mileage, it increases wear and tear on your car. When you drive with the idea of making your vehicle - and each gallon of gas - last as long as possible, you're driving green! A few more tips:

• Combine as many errands as possible into one trip
• Carpool whenever you can.
• Cut the number of vehicles on the road by picking up a few items for your neighbor when you go to the store.

2) Get a Tune-Up

When you bring your vehicle into Mountain View Tire for regular tune-ups, scheduled maintenance, and a new air filter now and then you'll reduce the gas you use and the amount of pollution your car produces. A properly tuned vehicle can cut gas costs by 4%. Change your dirty air filter and you can increase your car's efficiency by 10%. Replace your faulty oxygen sensor and you can lower your gas bill by up to 40%! (Make an appointment online now.)

3) Lighten the Load

Get the junk out of the trunk and remove any other unnecessary objects from your car. The extra weight makes your vehicle work harder and burn more fuel.

4) Check Your Tires

According to the Car Care Council, underinflated tires are responsible for wasting about two billion gallons of gas in this country each year. Tires that are not properly inflated increase rolling resistance. That makes the engine work harder to move the vehicle. This raises fuel costs by as much as three to five cents per gallon, and increases the risk of engine damage. Your vehicle's optimal tire pressure is listed in your owner's manual. Pull into any Mountain View Tire location for a free pressure check and fill.

5) Replace Your Bad Gas Cap

About 17% of vehicles on the road have loose, damaged, or missing gas caps. This causes 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize each year. If your gas cap is broken or missing, replace it as quickly as possible.