Every car has thousands of parts that are connected together with the sole purpose of helping you drive your car from point “A” to point “B.” Of all those parts, the four most important might be your tires. Even if everything else is working on your car, if you don’t have good tires, you’re not going anywhere.
Once you’re on the road, consistent tire maintenance can go a long way towards keeping you from getting into a serious accident.
Like all other parts of your car, your tires will eventually wear down. In fact, they probably wear down faster than any other part of your car. When a tire fails to hold onto the air that keeps it inflated, it can result in a tire blowout. That can spell disaster for the person in the car and any vehicles in the vicinity. If you have been affected by a tire blowout, you may want to talk to a Gulfport car crash attorney to discuss legal options.
How Can Tire Maintenance Prevent a Car Accident?
According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,000 tire-related crashes occurred in a single year, resulting in 646 fatalities.
Proper tire maintenance requires a car owner to be proactive. You might be able to rely on your car’s sensors to tell you when the tire pressure is low, but those sensors can’t tell you if your treads are worn out or if you’ve over-inflated the tires. That is what tire maintenance can take care of.
Here’s what your tire maintenance plan should look like:
A Complete Tire Inspection
You can tell by looking at a tire whether it is low on air or flat. For other issues, you have to look a bit closer. It might also help to have an experienced mechanic put your car up on a rack and give your tires a thorough inspection.
That inspection can reveal problems you might not recognize, including the following:
- Tread separation
- Tread belt separation
- Uneven treads
- Poorly repaired punctures
- Mounting errors
- Mismatching
- Proper Tire Inflation
Your tire inspection can reveal whether you need to replace your tires altogether or just have them properly inflated. The recommended tire pressure is written right on the tire itself. That makes it handy to get the right amount of air when you pull up to a gas station.
It’s a good habit to check your tire pressure every week. It’s important that you maintain the right numbers because an overinflated tire increases the risk of a blowout. The same can happen with an underinflated tire that pushes the sidewalls against the road, creating friction. Maintaining the right pressure helps prevent blowouts.
Rotate Your Tires
Tire rotation prevents uneven tire wear. How can tires become uneven? It’s all about weight distribution. When you drive, your side of the car becomes slightly heavier. That puts more pressure on the tires. Your mechanic will recommend when to rotate your tires. It is usually every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or when you go in for an oil change.
Tire Replacement
There will come a time in your tires’ lifespan when they need to be replaced. That can range from 36,000 to 75,000 miles of driving time. You don’t want to wait until you’re down to almost no treads. When you’re close to those numbers, start looking for sales. If you shop around, you’ll probably get a good deal on a new set of four and be sure to get the warranty.
What to Do in a Tire Blowout
Not every tire blowout has to end in a devastating car crash. If you do suffer a blowout, you can avoid slamming into another car by remaining calm and removing your foot from the accelerator.
You want a gradual deceleration rather than slamming on the brakes, which could cause them to lock up. Turn on your emergency lights and steer towards the shoulder to clear the road. Hopefully, you’ll never have to deploy those tactics. Proper tire maintenance can make all the difference.
What if you get into an accident because of another car’s tire blowout? Even though a tire blowout is a surprise, it is still the other driver’s fault. That puts you in line to file a claim against their insurance carrier to recover any damage you might have. Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, is a team of skilled Gulfport car accident attorneys who take great pride in their record of success helping clients achieve the compensation they are due.
If you were the victim of a serious car wreck, we want to hear what happened. Call to set up a consultation to review the claim and discuss next steps.
