The temperature is climbing in Texas and the pavement can become really warm as the sun beats down on it hour after hour. As your car travels on hot pavement, the warmth can be bad news for your tires. The hot summer weather can increase the chances of dangerous tire problems developing and Cars.com has some tips for preventing tire-related accidents from occurring.
Our Galveston accident lawyers know that tire failures and tire defects cause as many as 11,000 crashes each year in the United States, some of which are fatal. Taking care of your tires can help you to avoid becoming the victim of one of these crashes. Making sure your tires are properly maintained and working well becomes even more important as your tires keep your vehicle under control on broiling summer blacktop.
Taking Care of Your Tires In the Heat
The NHTSA indicates that some of the biggest risks associated with bad tires in the summer include separation of tire treads; bald tires and blown-out tires. While these tired problems can happen any time, the heat can make it more likely for serious problems to occur.
If a tire has treads that begin to separate, a blow-out or any other type of problem, then the car can lose traction with the road and/or the driver can lose control of the vehicle. This can result in an accident that injures the driver, the passengers, or other motorists who happen to be on the road.
To minimize the chances of tire-related problems and prevent tire failure, NHTSA has offered a variety of different tips for drivers. As Cars.com reports, these tips include:
- Checking your vehicle's recommended tire pressure and ensuring that you follow the guidelines. You can usually find the pressure recommendations for your car inside of the car's door and in the owner's manual.
- Keeping a tire gauge in your vehicle. You should check your tires about once per month since tires can lose as much as a pound per square inch monthly.
- Using your car's tire pressure monitoring system if one is installed in your vehicle. You should know where the monitoring system warning indicators are found and you should be sure to take appropriate action if your vehicle warns you of tire pressure problems.
- Replacing your tires as recommended by your manufacturer. Different cars have different maximum time limits for tire replacement, with some manufacturers recommending replacing your tires no later than every six years and others allowing you to go to 10 years.
- Monitoring tire tread. If the tire tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch or less, then it is time to replace the tires.
By following these tips, you can hopefully avoid a tire-related crash this summer. Those who fail to ensure their tires are properly maintained could potentially be held legally responsible if a tire problem causes a crash, so maintenance is important to avoid liability and to save lives.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact Hagood & Neumann at (800) 632-9404. Offices in Houston and Galveston.