Tire Safety Can Prevent Fatal Crashes
Did you know that there are 11,000 tire-related crashes every year? And did you know that about 200 people die after tire-related crashes every year? Do you know how old your tires are? How many miles you have put on them? The last time they were rotated? How deep the treads are? If you cannot answer these question, than it is definitely time to brush up on some tire safety tips.
The NHTSA has great resources to make sure your tires are keeping you safe. Their “TireWise” resource gives vital information on buying tires, maintaining tires, the labeling, aging, fuel efficiency and retailers of tires. They say remember these tips next time you are in the garage, so you can get the most out of your tires:
- Only 19% of consumers properly check and inflate their tire
- Tires lose about 1 psi of pressure each month, so make sure to check tire pressure monthly
- Most cars need a tire rotation every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
- 1 in 4 cars have at least one tire that is under-inflated. Be sure to check them regularly for cuts, abrasions, nails, etc.
- Have your tires checked professionally at least once a year. They can tell it there is too much rubber breakdown. In Florida, this is especially importatn because the process is accelerated by sunlight and heat.
- Keeping tires inflated properly can save you up to $0.11 a gallon.
This page on NHTSA’s website has resources including tools to:
- Figure out what type of tire to buy
- How factors go into tire safety ratings
- What size tires to buy
- How your tires’ safety rating fairs
- What steps to take to maintain your tires
- What to do if you have a tire blowout
- A video on everything you can do to your tires to protect yourself and family from a tire-related accident .
- What tire labels actually mean
Take about five minutes and make sure you are driving with safe tires. It could mean the difference of a smooth drive, or a serious injury.