Tires: Essential to Safe Driving

Tire failure at highway speed (i.e. “blow-out”) can be frightening. Noises associated with a blow-out may include a loud boom followed by sharp rapping noises if the tire separates and strikes car body parts. Steering wheel vibration, steering pull to one side and rear-end swinging side-to-side are also expected to occur. Stay calm and have faith that you can handle the situation.

A driver must cooperate with the new handling limitations of a vehicle with a deflated tire. Follow these steps:

1. The vehicle will slow down due to deflated tire drag and steer toward the side of the failed tire. First, maintain constant speed and straight-ahead steering without jerking the steering wheel. This will often require stepping on the gas pedal to maintain constant speed and direction.
2. Focus on straight-ahead steering control. Slow down by first easing-up on the gas pedal slowly. Use turn signals to indicate your intentions. Begin braking lightly as you approach a place to stop. Do not steer or brake abruptly. Move gradually onto the shoulder of the road and stop in the safest possible place. It may be safer to continue driving on to the next exit or broader shoulder than to stop in congested traffic and risk being struck from behind.
3. If you are on a bridge or in heavy traffic, focus on straight-ahead steering control and constant speed, slowing down gradually until you can leave the restricted area and proceed to stop on the shoulder of the road
4. Be careful as the vehicle crosses the ridge along the road’s shoulder. This may catch the flat tire and cause sudden steering deviation. Focus on steering straight and stopping gradually, not on stopping quickly.
5. Turn on the hazard warning flashers as soon as practical
6. Many accidents related to tire failure are the result of abrupt steering corrections and hard panic braking. Avoid these actions.

Safe Driving Practices and Tire Maintenance: Prevent Tire Failure Incidents

Prevent blow-out incidents and resulting hazards by observing safe driving practices and proper tire maintenance.

Unsafe driving practices create an even greater risk to safety if a tire fails. Observe the following guidelines to reduce your risk if a tire problem occurs:

1. Observe all speed limits.
   • Observe all posted speed limits. You may be thinking, “Who does that?” All drivers should do it! Excessive speed combined with low tire inflation pressures produces tire heat that can lead to tire failure.
   • Observe posted cornering speeds. Such speeds are often posted at freeway exits and on roads with curves. Cornering at speeds greater than those posted and particularly speeds that produce tire squeal may exceed the lateral traction limit of the tires and the resulting tire slip may be greater than the driver is experienced to compensate for.
2. Avoid hard braking by slowing down and anticipating the need to stop
3. Avoid aggressive acceleration which consumes more fuel and produces tire wear

Tire Maintenance Reduces the Risk of Tire Failure

1. Maintain proper inflation pressure.

   
   Dodge Durango Door Sticker (tire pressures) – image by author

   Tire size, weight capacity ratings, and inflation pressures are displayed on the driver’s door sticker of most late model vehicles. If not found there, refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. These are preferred to the maximum inflation/load numbers molded on the tire sidewall. Tire pressure sensors are installed in many cars and are a wonderful aid to safe driving. Check tire pressures every day when traveling cross-country. Weekly pressure checks are often enough for most casual driving. A daily walk-around inspection of tires, lights and door closure is advisable. Check for tire lumps, cracks and debris embedded in or puncturing the tire. Sharp objects like nails and screws do not usually cause a blow-out directly. Rather, they create slow pressure loss that causes tire failure as the vehicle is driven at higher speeds. Do not judge tire pressures by visual appearance. Radial tires deflated to half their required pressure look almost the same as fully inflated tires. Measure pressures when the tires are at ambient temperature with a known-good gauge. Keep a tire gauge in every car.

2. Rotate tires according to the pattern and frequency recommended by the vehicle manufacturer or every 6,000 miles. The purpose of tire position rotation is to create an even wear pattern across the tread surface and thus maximize the useful life of the tires.
3. Replace tires when the tread wear indicator, molded into the tread, shows as a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tire.

   
   Tire Tread Depth with a Penny – image by author

   Another wear test is to measure the tread depth with a penny placed in the tread groove. With Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you, you should not see the top of his head. If you do see the top of Lincoln’s head, replace the tire. The penny finally shows its value!