You need to be able to trust that your vehicle is safe for the road. One of the main ways to ensure this is to take care of your tires. When tires aren’t properly taken care of, they can lose air or become damaged while you’re driving the vehicle, potentially causing an accident that may result in injuries to yourself and others.
There are a few ways to know whether your vehicle is road-ready and if your tires are as good as they should be for the type of driving you need to do. Here are some tips, as well as some information about how often accidents are caused by poor, damaged, or malfunctioning tires occur.
Tire-Related Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the following statistics show the danger of failing to keep up with tires.
- 11,000 tire-related crashes happen each year.
- In 2016, 733 total traffic fatalities occurred where tire malfunction was a factor.
Even when one tire fails, a driver may be unable to keep proper control of their vehicle in order to avoid causing an accident. This is why tire-related accidents are such a risk. If people knew more about their tires and how to take care of them, these numbers could be greatly reduced. When you put in the time to maintain your tires, you know that your vehicle is ready for the road.
What Are Different Types of Tires?
Just as the seasons and road conditions vary, there are tires that are suited for these conditions. Choosing the right kind of tire for your driving needs could prevent you from losing control of your vehicle or causing an accident.
- Winter Tires. These kinds of tires handle well in deep snow.
- Summer Tires. These are meant for warm weather and should not be used during the winter, especially when the temperature is below freezing or for navigating inclement weather conditions.
- All-Season Tires. While maybe not as effective as winter tires in snowy conditions, all-season tires can be used for several road conditions, including mud and snow.
- All-Terrain Tires. Four-wheel drive vehicles typically use these and they are a good option for those who require tires that can drive on and off-road.
Regardless of what kind of tires you get, you need to be able to take care of them. There are a few key points of tire care that you should know about.
What You Need To Know About Tires
One of the biggest perks to maintaining your tires apart from safety is that you save money. One example is when you keep your tires inflated, you can save $0.11 per gallon of gas. Driving with your tires underinflated makes driving riskier and costs you money. Here are some more tips that will help you keep your vehicle in the best shape possible:
- Maintain Tire Pressure. Regularly check the pressure of all your tires. You can find the correct amount of pressure on the tires themselves as well as on the tire and loading information label. This label can be located in the owner’s manual, the driver’s side door, door jamb, or rear-edge. If it’s not in these places, you’ll likely find it within eyesight from the driver’s seating position, such as the sun visor.
- Pay Attention to Treads. The tire tread is essential for wheel safety. The treads hug the road and give you the control you need to drive safely. If you notice the treads are worn down, you need to get new tires.
- Regularly Aligned and Rotated. You need your tires to be balanced and aligned so you can drive smoothly. Rotating them helps certain areas from wearing out too quickly. Professionals can balance, align, and rotate your tires.
- Have Proper Tire Size. Different tire sizes are made for the myriad kinds of vehicles on the road. The tire and loading information label or your owner’s manual will indicate the kind of tires you need.
When you’re taking care of your tires, you know you’re doing everything possible to make your vehicle dependable on the road. You don’t have to worry about blowouts or losing control of your vehicle. This will allow you to focus on safely driving to your destination.
McMath Woods P.A. Is Here To Help You
When negligent drivers don’t maintain their vehicles, they put everyone on the road at risk. If someone ignored tire safety and caused an accident where you were injured, it’s important to remember that the accident wasn’t necessarily your fault and you may have legal options.
If you’ve been injured, McMath Woods P.A. can help you with your claim. The attorneys at McMath Woods P.A. know how traumatic a car accident can be and how the injuries can be severe, but we can potentially help you get the compensation that may cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. We can stand up for your rights and get your future back on track. Give our office a call today and schedule a free consultation so we can go over your case and find the best course of action for you.
