Tire Wise: Tire Safety
Tire maintenance is crucial to safety in vehicles considering that everything rides on it. Ensuring tires are safe can prevent tire failure. Tire blowouts and failure can result in severe car crashes.
Here are a few tips in order to extend the life of your tires and to keep you safe on the road.
-Tire Aging. Factors such a heat, use, storage and climate conditions can deteriorate tires at accelerated rates. Although you cannot tell just by looking if your tires are old, there is a date on the side that tells when the tire was manufactured. A good rule of thumb is you should replace your tires every six years, but other factors can play into the age so always be aware of wear and tear.
-Tire Maintenance. You should check tire pressure and tread monthly. This will not only help with ensuring safety, but will also help with fuel consumption. Have your tires rotated, balanced, and aligned whenever you take your vehicle in for an oil change. An easy way to check tire tread is to put a penny in the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it is time to change your tire.
-Replacing Tires. By regularly maintaining your tires and keeping track of their age, you will have a good idea of when it is time to replace them. When that time comes, it is important to make sure that the new tires are right for you vehicle and the environment in which you drive. Always have the tire company bring out the tires before they put them on so you can check the manufacturing date. Tire companies will call tires ‘new’ if they haven’t been used, but they could have been sitting and baking in a warehouse for months or years. This can be very dangerous. For example, consider a rubber band. If exposed to warm temperatures, the rubber band will start to crack. This same thing can happen to tires, including spares.
-Registration and Recalls. Registering your tires is crucial for tire safety. Manufacturers rely on this information to alert you when there is a recall on your tires. You can also sign up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to get notices when there are recalls for tires.
It is so important to take proper care of your tires. If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a defective tire or product, contact our offices today for a free consultation.
Source: NHTSA