When the tires on a vehicle fail, it puts the driver and surrounding cars at risk for a serious accident. Hundreds of people die on the roadways each year because of tire-related incidents. The US Tire Manufacturer Association is raising awareness about tire safety with its annual campaign, National Tire Safety Week. Taking place from June 28 through July 4, the theme of this year’s safety campaign is “Do Your Part, Know Your Roll.”

Today’s modern tires are engineered for safety, performance, and durability. Motorists can also protect themselves by understanding how to properly care for and maintain the tires on their vehicle. Here’s a checklist avoiding tire failures and increasing the life of the tires.

  • Make sure your tires are the correct size for your vehicle
  • Use a tire gauge to check the air pressure in your tires (including the spare tire)
  • Place caps on all of the tire valves
  • Inspect and measure the tire tread; clear any objects stuck in the tread
  • Look for cuts, cracks, or bulges in the tire sidewalls
  • Rotate your vehicle’s tires every 6,000 miles
  • Check the tire balance and vehicle alignment
  • Observe your vehicle and tire load limits

Tires are critical for the safe operation of a vehicle and the safety of the driver. While proper care and maintenance are important, they cannot overcome defects in design or manufacturing.

A tire should be able to withstand intense internal and external forces for 60,000 to 80,000 miles. When a manufacturer uses cheap or defective materials, this can cause tread separation or a tire blowout. In an attempt to maximize profits by building tires negligently or with low-quality components, the manufacturers end up putting their customers at risk. The results can be catastrophic.

If a tire company cuts corners in the design and manufacturing of their tires, or if they fail to warn customers about the dangers of driving on old tires – that company can be held legally accountable. Similarly, if the company knows about a potential product danger but does not issue a safety recall, the company can be legally accountable. With thousands of brands of tires on the market today, drivers may not be aware of any safety issues or product recalls until an accident happens.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in an accident as the result of defective tires, please contact Zinns Law at (888) 882-9002 or our online contact page. You may have a claim against the company that manufactured the faulty tire.