Top 10 Tire Safety Issues Every Car Owner Should Know

It is common to see cars on the side of the road when you drive on any interstate or highway. Most often, this is a flat tire or a jack holding the car with the wheel removed. As you drive by, you think how awful it is to be that person, but driving safely is often taken for granted. How often do you visually check your tires? Probably not as often as it should. Do you know what you are looking for?

Many flat tires on the side of the road could have been avoided if they had a little knowledge about tires. Here are 10 tire safety questions every car owner should know.

1. Driving with a flat tire is never safe.

Including short distances. Your vehicle is designed to be driven with the tires inflated to the correct pressure. If your tires are flat, not only will the tire be destroyed when you ride it, but your car won't behave the same way in traffic conditions. Every bump and bump will feel like the steering wheel is being yanked out of your hands and braking control is compromised. You may also experience unwanted activation of the anti-lock braking system. Avoid this at all costs unless you need to get out of a dangerous situation.

2. Over-inflated tires can cause a rupture faster than a puncture.

There is a segment of the population that increases tire pressure to reduce rolling resistance on the road, which improves fuel efficiency slightly. This is not recommended because the flat pad will swell slightly. Only the center portion of the tread is in contact with the road, causing the center portion to wear faster. This not only reduces traction, but if an over-inflated tire hits a pothole, curb, or foreign object in the road, it can burst much more easily than properly inflated tires.

3. Insufficient pressure can destroy your tires from the inside.

Insufficient tire pressure is not a common practice, however, the air pressure in your tires fluctuates due to changes in outside temperature. This can be as high as 8 psi between summer and winter in colder climates. When you drive with under-inflated tires, you not only experience a reduction in fuel efficiency, but safety is also affected. An under-inflated tire can easily pinch and rupture when it suddenly hits a curb or pothole, which can result in a burst or leak. Tire pressure should be checked and adjusted during the change of season to avoid potential safety issues.

4. Uneven tire wear could be a sign of something much more serious.

When you see tires wearing unevenly, whether one of the four tires is wearing more than the rest, or there is unusual wear on each individual tire, it signals a potentially unsafe problem with your vehicle. Uneven tire wear can be a sign of a loose belt on a tire or a sign of problems with your vehicle's steering or suspension.

5. Lowering the load range of your tires can cause all kinds of tire failure.

The load range of your tires matches your vehicle's capabilities and operating conditions. If you have tires that are not heavy enough for your use, you may experience a variety of tire-related symptoms such as abnormal wear, tearing, and tire delamination. This usually applies more to vehicles that are being towed or trucks, but of course this is not safe.

6. The most important safety feature of your tires is the tread.

Driving with worn tires is not safe. They are prone to breaks, beyond repair, but most importantly, worn tires have no traction. When braking, steering and accelerating, tires need to have traction to work effectively. Worn tires can cause your vehicle to skid on slippery surfaces and hydroplan in wet conditions.

7. Don't Use Your Spare Tire Every Day

Everyone knows a person who drives a spare tire for long distances or for a long time. Compact spare tires are designed for very short term use at speeds up to 50 mph for distances up to 50 miles. Running your compact spare every day has two consequences: it puts you at risk of blowing another tire if your compact spare is damaged or worn out, which means you're driving without a spare.

8. Inappropriate tire sizes can ruin XNUMXWD and XNUMXWD vehicles.

The transfer boxes on these vehicles will experience binding and potentially dangerous stress if tires of the wrong size are used. This includes tires with different tread depths. Tires with only half an inch difference in diameter can cause symptoms or failures that are potentially unsafe.

9. Improperly patched tires can burst.

The Department of Transportation considers proper tire repair to be a combination of a plug and a puncture patch up to ¼ inch. Oversized openings and repairs other than the combination plug-patch are not permitted due to their safety implications. In addition, the tire must not be patched on the sidewall or on the rounded shoulder of the tire. All this can lead to a sudden loss of tire pressure.

10. A screw in a tire's tread doesn't always mean a flat tire.

When you walk up to your car and the metallic shimmer of a screw or nail in a tire catches your attention, it can make you feel like you're drowning. But don't lose hope just yet. The tread of your new tires is about ⅜ inches thick. Add to that the thickness of the inner and structural layers and your tire is nearly an inch thick. Many screws, nails, staples and nails are shorter than this and will not penetrate through causing air to leak. You need to be sure it doesn't leak when removed, so it's probably a good idea to take it to a tire repair shop.

Safe driving is paramount, not vehicle performance. If you have any concerns about the condition of your tires or are unsure if they are safe to use, contact a tire expert.