Georgia drivers should keep their tires maintained if they want to reduce their chances of being involved in a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,000 car accidents each year are caused by tire failure. As the spring weather gets warmer in Georgia, the heat can play a major role in a vehicle’s tire performance. Exposure to high temperatures and repeated driving on hot roads can cause tires to wear down faster than they normally would. Worn tires can lead to such problems as under-inflation, tire blowouts and tread separation.
Under-inflation in particular can increase the risk of being in an accident. Consumer Reports reveals that cars with tires that are properly inflated are three times less likely to be involved in a crash than cars with tires that are underinflated by 25 percent or more. One study found that in the moments leading up to a crash, five percent of all vehicles experienced some type of tire problem.
This issue is especially important for SUV drivers. The study also found that when an SUV encountered a tire malfunction prior to getting into an acident, the vehicle was 45 percent more likely to roll over. This is in contrast to other types of vehicles such as cars, vans and pickup trucks, which only exhibited a 25 percent chance of rollover due to tire problems.
In addition, drivers should keep a close eye on their tires’ treads. As treads wear down, the chance of accident also increases. Cars with worn tires were 23.6 percent more likely to be in a tire-related crash compared to those with proper tread depth on their tires.
