Friday, May 22, 2015

DRIVERS: MANAGE TIRE RISKS FOR A SAFER RIDE. Tire Maintenance and Registration Can Decrease Crash Risk



The Problem: 

More than 600 people are killed and about 19,000 are injured in tire-related crashes each year. 

Many of these crashes resulted from poor tire maintenance, including failure to maintain proper inflation, check for adequate tread, monitor for damage, or have repairs made properly. 

According to a survey conducted in 2014 by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, 69 percent of vehicles had at least one underinflated tire. 

Very few motorists register their tires with the manufacturer, making it less likely that the manufacturer will contact them in the event of a tire recall.


What to Do: 

Register your new tires with the manufacturer, so you receive tire recall notices. 

You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. If your tire pressure monitoring system activates, check your tires as soon as possible.

Inflate your tires to the pressures indicated in your vehicle owner’s manual or on the “Tire and Loading Information” label located on the driver’s side door edge (or post) of your vehicle. Do not use the pressure printed on the tire sidewall. 

When checking your tire pressure, also examine your tires for punctures, signs of uneven tread wear, bald spots, bulges or bumps, cuts or cracks in the sidewall, or any other abnormalities. These problems can lead to tire failure.

Don’t forget your spare! Tires can degrade even when not in use, so keep your spare tire properly inflated and check it monthly for problems. 

To prolong the life of your tires, remember to rotate, balance, and align your tires in accordance with the information in your vehicle owner’s manual. 

If you hear an unusual sound coming from a tire, slow down and have your tires checked immediately. 

Interested in More Information? 

Education is critical to maintaining your tires properly. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for tire information specific to your vehicle. The US Department of Transportation, tire manufacturers, tire retailers, and others have published helpful tips online about properly maintaining, replacing, and registering your tires, as well as about checking for safety recalls. You can find valuable information at the following websites: 

US Department of Transportation (http://www.safercar.gov/tires)
Rubber Manufacturers Association (http://www.rma.org/tire-safety)
Tire Industry Association (http://www.tireindustry.org/consumer-safety)

This NTSB safety alert and others can be accessed from the NTSB’s Safety Alerts web page at http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts.