How Can I Prevent an Accident Due to Tire Failure?

Photo of a truck getting new tires.

Maintaining your tires is the most important safety precaution you can take to prevent tire failure. Make a habit of frequently checking your tires and performing maintenance, such as:

• Checking your tire pressure
• Balancing and aligning your tires
• Checking the tire tread monthly

Recently, KHOU reported that, “two adults were injured…in a wreck involving a day care van in northwest Harris County.” The van collided head-on with a sedan. The driver of the other vehicle said he was having tire problems that caused him to lose control and crash into the van carrying children at the time.

At about 2:08 p.m., the All Star Day Care and Preschool van was traveling westbound on Parramatta when a sedan traveling in the opposite direction crossed into the van’s lane and hit it head-on.

Fortunately, the children inside the van were not injured. However, the driver and passenger sustained injuries. Both were taken to the hospital.

What Is the Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards System?

If the driver of the sedan had properly maintained his tires, this accident may not have endangered the lives of the children and caretakers in the day care van.

When your tires are worn, it may be time to buy a new set. The next time you are on the market for new tires, pay attention to the ratings the U.S. Government issues all tires. This rating system is called the Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQGS), and it is always shown on the sidewall of a tire.

It is designed to help consumers’ comparison shop for tires based on three variables: 

• Treadwear
  • Grades how long the tread on a tire should last. A rating of 600 means that the tire should take a longer time to wear down compared to a tire rated with a 200.
• Traction Performance
  • Grades the stopping distance of a tire on wet pavement. A tire will be graded either AA, A, B or C. AA is the highest rating.
• Temperature Rating
  • Grades how well the tire resists heat. A tire will be graded either A, B or C, with A being the highest grade.

Did You Know? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are nearly 11,000 tire-related crashes every year, and 200 people will die in those crashes.

The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Personal Injury Attorney

Source: http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/tires_buying.html