Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Your tires can be the cause of roadway accidents or they can prevent
them. Far too many motorists
take tires for granted. 411 Pain reminds all motorists, just like the
engine under the hood needs maintenance and attention so do your tires.
A Tire safety cites under inflation as the leading cause of tire
failure. Not only are under inflated tires more prone to damage,
the website finds they can also cause a
drive up the price of gas. Estimates range anywhere between 3 to 5¢
per gallon.
Maintaining your tires isn't very expensive, but ignoring them can
prove costly and possibly deadly. At least once a month 411 Pain
recommends performing a few simple checks.
1. Look at your tires for signs of puncture wounds. Tires pick up
all kinds of debris on the road like nails, pieces of metal, and small
rocks. If you spot anything impaled in your tires take it immediately
into a tire store. You may not need a brand new tire, but a simple
patch or minor repair. But 411Pain says that call should only be made
by a professional.
2. Check the tread on all of your tires for signs of wear and tear
like cracks or bulges. If you don't get your tires rotated regularly,
the tread may be uneven, leaving you vulnerable to accidents or
injury. You can measure the tire tread depth with a quarter. Simply
slide the coin in between the grooves and if you can see all of
President George Washington's head it's time to replace the tire.
3. 411 Pain recommends you get your tires rotated every 5000 miles,
but double check your vehicle's owner's manual. How far you drive and
how often you drive may affect the frequency and pattern of tire
rotation.
4. If you find your car is pulling to one side or the other or if your
steering wheel is shaking an alignment may be in order. Striking
curbs and speed bumps can knock your tires off balance which in turn
affects your alignment.
In 2003 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds flat
tires and or blowouts were factors in nearly 79,400 crashes. 414
people lost their lives and another 10,275 suffered non-fatal injuries
all of which could have been avoided with proper tire maintenance.
411 Pain reminds us without tires, we can go nowhere fast. Give them
their due diligence or you may find yourself traveling on the path to
danger.
