Posted by The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic in Car Accidents
As a driver, your personal safety and the safety of your passengers often depend on the condition of your vehicle’s tires. If the tires on your car are old, worn, not properly inflated or have been recalled, the likelihood of being involved in a serious accident is significantly higher.
All it takes is one defective tire to cause a tragedy. This devastating accident is not an isolated incident and over the years our firm has represented far too many people seriously injured or killed as a result of defective or dangerous tires.
Tire-Related Accident Statistics
More than 11,000 accidents each year can be attributed to a tire-related issue. According to Safercar.gov, an average of 200 people per year lose their lives in tire-related crashes. In total, U.S. drivers put an average of 2,969 billion miles on their tires every year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently reported that out of the 2,189,000 crashes it reviewed, the critical reason for approximately 15,000 crashes was tire or wheel-related.
Another NHTSA study revealed that 12 percent of passenger vehicles between model years 2004 and 2011 had at least one tire underinflated by 25 percent or more.
Knowing how to keep your vehicle’s tires properly maintained, and then following through to do so, is an essential part of staying safe on the road. Here are some important tire safety facts you should know:
Tire pressure should be checked at least once a month, regardless of whether your vehicle is equipped with a sensor.
Keep your tires properly inflated to manufacturer-recommended levels. Underinflated tires can make handling your vehicle extremely difficult. They can also cause problems such as requiring a longer distance to stop, increasing stress on tire components and significant heat buildup that leads to blowouts. Under-inflated tires can also decrease fuel economy.
Vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) can reduce the odds of a vehicle having a dramatically underinflated tire by 56 percent.
Routine tire maintenance can extend the life of your vehicle’s tires.
If your vehicle’s tires have a tread depth of 2/32″ or less, you need to get the tires replaced. At this tread depth, the likelihood of the tires experiencing a problem that leads to an accident is three times greater than if the tread depth is between 3/32″ and 4/32″. Most new tires have a tread depth between 10/32″ and 11/32″.
Good tread does not mean a tire is safe. Heat, age and numerous other factors cause tires to break down over time. If the internal integrity of a tire is comprised, tragedy may result. It is for this reason most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires after six to 10 years. This applies to the spare tire as well.
If you need to replace a tire on your vehicle, it is recommended you replace at least two or all four at the same time. Should you be unable to do so, at the very least you should replace it with a similar brand, speed rating, line and load capacity.
Hazards of Old Tires
Old tires can cause a lot more trouble than many drivers realize. There is the possibility of blowouts caused by tread separation, wear and tear, under-inflation and balding tires. Also, as a tire ages, its internal components and integrity may become compromised. Signs of aging are not always visible.
An estimated 3,200 people each year are injured and another 90 people or more die in accidents in which tire age is a contributing factor.
Are My Tires Safe?
If you are unsure whether your car’s tires are safe, the following tips can help:
Read the tire identification number. If you look along the side of the tire, it will show Department of Transportation (DOT), the manufacturer and plant code, the tire size code, the manufacturer identity number and the last four digits will indicate the week and year the tire was made. For example “3212” indicates the tire was made in the 32nd week of 2012. If the tire was made more than six to ten years ago, it is probably not safe. Replace it. If you can’t read the code, take your car to a tire shop to have the tires’ age checked.
Use a tire gauge to check the air pressure in each tire every month. All vehicles with a model year of 2006 or newer have a tire and loading information label along the edge of the driver’s side door. This label contains all the information you need pertaining to maximum load, type of tires and proper inflation pressure. Remember that cooler temperatures decrease tire pressure, so be sure to check your tires when the weather turns colder.
Check the tread depth on your tires by putting a penny in upside down between the grooves. If all of Lincoln’s head is visible, it is time to get a new set of tires.
If the tires on your vehicle have not been rotated within the last 5,000 to 7,000 miles, get this done right away as it will allow all four tires to wear at the same rate.
Inspect your tires for any signs of damage including cuts, nicks, cracks, scrapes, bulges or objects lodged in between the tread. While some punctures and other damage can be temporarily repaired, this type of damage is often a sign your tires are not safe.
As a driver, your personal safety and the safety of your passengers often depend on the condition of your vehicle’s tires. If the tires on your car are old, worn, not properly inflated or have been recalled, the likelihood of being involved in a serious accident is significantly higher.
All it takes is one defective tire to cause a tragedy. This devastating accident is not an isolated incident and over the years our firm has represented far too many people seriously injured or killed as a result of defective or dangerous tires.
Tire-Related Accident Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently reported that out of the 2,189,000 crashes it reviewed, the critical reason for approximately 15,000 crashes was tire or wheel-related.
Another NHTSA study revealed that 12 percent of passenger vehicles between model years 2004 and 2011 had at least one tire underinflated by 25 percent or more.
Knowing how to keep your vehicle’s tires properly maintained, and then following through to do so, is an essential part of staying safe on the road. Here are some important tire safety facts you should know:
If you need to replace a tire on your vehicle, it is recommended you replace at least two or all four at the same time. Should you be unable to do so, at the very least you should replace it with a similar brand, speed rating, line and load capacity.
Hazards of Old Tires
An estimated 3,200 people each year are injured and another 90 people or more die in accidents in which tire age is a contributing factor.
Are My Tires Safe?
If you are unsure whether your car’s tires are safe, the following tips can help:
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