Tire Safety
Driving on underinflated, overinflated, or bald tires, or those not recommend by manufacturers, can lead to injury to both a vehicle and its occupants. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), underinflated tires reduce fuel economy and traction while increasing the chances of hydroplaning on wet surfaces and tire blowout. Regularly checking tire pressure, tread-depth and integrity, along with understanding specific tire specifications, will increase your safety while driving.
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Regular Inspection and Maintenance
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The NHTSA states that maintaining a regular understanding of tire health and specifications improves vehicle handling, decreases the chances of tire failure and accidents, increases miles per gallon and increases tire longevity. Continual tire inspection and maintenance decreases the risk of tire failure and can save you money by reducing the frequency of purchasing new tires.
Tire Pressure
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Tires should be checked periodically, if possible weekly, to see if they are at the correct pressure. A vehicle placard usually stamped to the driver's side doorjamb, or the vehicle's owners manual, specifies suggested tire pressure for best performance and safety. Tire pressure checks are most accurate when the tire is cold, which means the tire has not been used for at least three hours.
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Tire Damage
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Cracking, splits, slashes and tire bulging are all things to look for along the sidewall and tread while maintaining tire safety. Cracking occurs from dry-rot or prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun. Cracking is most common in hot climates. Overinflation or underinflation leads to tire bulging, which in both cases decreases the tire's contact patch to the road, lessening grip. Nails, glass or any sharp object embedded in a tire increase the chance of tire failure.
Tire Rotation
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Car and Driver suggests rotating tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to keep an even tread wear across the front and rear tires. Front-wheel drive cars put the most wear on the front tires because they directly receive engine power from the drivetrain. Rear-wheel drive cars put the most wear on the rear wheels. Rotating tires as recommended, evens tire wear and increases tire grip and longevity. For those who don't drive very often, tire manufacturers normally give tires a maximum life of 10 years, no matter how much tread they have.
Tire Specifications
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Tire markings explain what conditions a tire can safely withstand. On every DOT-rated tire, there are federally required specifications, ratings and size stamped on the sidewall. Each number and letter has a meaning. For example, 255/50R17 89Q breaks down as follows: "255" is tire width in millimeters, "50" is the sidewall aspect ratio expressed as a percentage of tire width, "R" signifies radial construction, "17" denotes in inches the rim diameter the tire safely mounts to, "89" corresponds with a load index explaining the maximum weight a tire can support, and "Q" corresponds to a speed rating or MPH the tire should not exceed. Other stamped markings include traction grade, tire type, suggested PSI and materials used in the tire's construction.
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References
- Photo Credit highway image by Ekaterina Sidorenko from Fotolia.com
