Tire Safety 101

Law Firm of Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman

When one thinks of tire safety or tire blowouts, the Ford Explorer/Firestone debacle often comes to mind. You may recall that in 2001, Firestone recalled approximately 6.5 million tires and agreed to replace an additional 13 million tires that were not part of the recall.  The recall was prompted by a defect that caused the tires to be more susceptible to tread separations (i.e. a tire blowout).

But a defective tire is not the only cause of a blowout. The internal structure of a tire can be weakened by driving on under-inflated tires, by exceeding the load limit for the vehicle or because of impacts to the tire from pot holes or curbs. All of the foregoing can make your tires more susceptible to tread separations or blowouts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the following Safety Checklist and Safety Tips:

Safety Checklist

• Check tire pressure regularly (at least once a month), including the spare.
• Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread, cracks, foreign objects, or other signs of wear or trauma. Remove bits of glass and other foreign objects wedged in the tread. 
• Make sure your tire valves have valve caps. 
• Check tire pressure before going on a long trip. 
• Do not overload your vehicle. Check the tire information placard or owner's manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle. 
• If you are towing a trailer, remember that some of the weight of the loaded trailer is transferred to the towing vehicle.

Safety Tips

• Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other object in the road.
• Do not run over curbs, and try not to strike the curb when parking.

Additional information on tire safety and vehicle safety can be found at www.nhtsa.gov.

If you have been injured in an accident, your trust advocates at Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman will assist you in obtaining the maximum recovery to compensate you for your losses. If you or someone you know has been injured in a traffic accident, or because of someone else’s negligence, please contact us at             561-842-2820       to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.