As a vehicle owner, one must be well aware of the different aspects that can cease damage to their car and its components. One must keep in mind that the four tires of the vehicle are the sole contact with the road surface. Thus, the condition of the road and the driving habits can leave a direct impact on them. It is a big mistake to proper care and maintenance of the tires. To begin with, one must get aware as to how they can or are causing tire damage.
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Statistical Overview
Statistics around the globe are tremendous even in US, the numbers are telling the importance of taking care of your flat/damaged tires. Let’s explore the numbers;
Flat Tire Statistics
Flat tire can cause anytime, even with proper care, due to certain external reasons. Following statistics are indicating that flat tires are more common than you might have thought:
- 622 people died in traffic accidents in 2021 as a result of tire-related incidents. (NHTSA)
- Run-flat tires, which enable you to go around 50 miles on a flat tire, are only found on about 16 percent of new cars. (Edmunds)
- Every seven seconds, a tire puncture occurs in the United States, resulting in around 220 million flat tires annually. (News Torque)
- More than 20% of drivers don’t know how to repair a flat tire, compared to 42.2 percent of drivers who are certain they can do it. (NBC News)
- Only around 10% of new cars come with a full-sized tires that are spare. About 60% of them come with a temporary spare, and the remaining ones have a run-flat tire and sealant kit. (Consumer Reports)
Accident Statistics
Although a flat tire may seem like a minor inconvenience, tire blowouts can result in accidents, including collisions involving multiple vehicles as well as single vehicles. For example, you could veer into oncoming traffic if you have a flat tire on a busy road and lose control of your car. Alternatively, you could collide with a stationary object, such as a fence or phone pole.
Unbelievably, flat tire incidents occur increasingly frequently. Here are some statistics to be aware of:
- Bad tires are thought to be the cause of 11,000 accidents annually, which lead to about 600 fatalities. (NHTSA)
- Compared to cars with correctly inflated tires, underinflated tires have a three times higher risk of being involved in a tire-related collision. (Consumer Reports)
- Just 42% of drivers check the tire pressure on a regular basis, despite the fact that gradual leaks or underinflation cause 75% of roadside flats. (United Tires)
- 45 percent of SUVs that flipped over had tire problems prior to the collision, according to a survey of 5,470 auto accidents. (United Tires)
- Texas, Kansas, and Pennsylvania had the greatest recorded numbers of tire-related collisions. (United Tires)
The statistics shown above are all caused by some kind of problems related to tires. We will now explain the different causes and tire damage types.
Factors that can Lead to Tire Wear
The age of the tire, their quality, and the road conditions can impact the condition of the tire. If there are curbs, sharp objects, potholes or speed bumps on your daily route, then expect faster wear and damage. Extreme temperatures, such as heavy rain, snow or hot temperatures to leave a negative impact on the tires. Although choosing the right high performance tire is also a reason, yet another culprit is driving habits. If you are habitual to apply emergency brakes, speeding or tend to ignore that noise or vibration, you are in for trouble. There are several other physical factor involved, as;
Center Wear
Your tires will have the optimal “contact patch”—the amount of tire that touches the road—when they are properly inflated. The tread may slightly protrude in the center if the tire is overinflated, which will lessen the tire’s contact with the tread’s edges. The tread’s center will therefore experience additional wear. Moreover, strong sports cars with high torque applications may experience increased tire wear in the middle, particularly when understeering or wheelspin occurs.
Shoulder Coverage
The center of the tire may sink inward if your tires are underinflated. It will put additional pressure on the tread’s edges that are closest to the sidewall. Moreover, you may notice that one side of your tires is wearing down quickly, close to the shoulder. Specifically, when your suspension, steering, or alignment are not adjusted correctly, or if you run into a pothole or are involved in a collision.
Generally speaking, you should change your tires when the tread gets too worn. Properly adjusted tire pressure distributes forces over a larger surface area of the tire. It results in equally distributed wear and extended tire life. Even while there may be deeper tread elsewhere on the tire, you will still need to replace it once the wear is limited to one location.
Rash Curb
Generally speaking, “curb rash” refers to the harm your wheels sustain when you parallel park a little too closely to the curb. In addition to causing ugly cuts in the wheel, the wheel’s rotation against the concrete curb can also harm your tires. It may even split the tire’s bead from the wheel, resulting in a blow-out. It may also scratch or slash the sidewall. The easiest damage to prevent is this one, which can be done by just being cautious when parking.
Tire Sidewall Damage
Your tires’ sidewalls are more brittle and prone to punctures than the tread itself. Not the sidewalls, but the tire’s inside air is what makes it strong enough to sustain a large car. This implies that getting a cut or gash in the sidewall that results in tire damage. The durability of your tire’s sidewalls will also increases if you make sure your car tire pressure is right.
Cuts & Punctures
Naturally, road debris—nails, screws, glass fragments, and other random trash—is the most frequent cause of unanticipated tire damage. These items can get under your car’s tires and produce a flat. It is just impractical to attempt to prevent these things.
Generally speaking, they wouldn’t be visible until they were too close for you to avoid. The best you can do to make your tires as strong as possible is to ensure that the tires have proper car tire inflators and pressure.
Ignoring the Care
Vehicle owners often ignore the road conditions, their driving habits and when something changes in their car. They simply neglect basic tire maintenance and fail to consult a professional. They do not routinely check for any wear or damage of the tire. Because they ignore checking the tire pressure or the alignment and rotation of the wheels. All those factors can damage the tires of the car.
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Quick Acceleration/Brake Slamming
If you are having a habit of punching the accelerator and slamming the brake pedal suddenly, it will have consequences later on. A quick command will always result in tire wear. It happens because the friction between the vehicle tires and the road will be sudden and harsh, causing damage. Speeding can also increase this friction which will eventually damage your tires.
Improper Care and Storage
Another reason is improper care and storage of the tire. Drivers do not care much about improper usage and often mix tire types. They use tires on damaged or modified wheels, and this can hamper the quality and functioning of the tires. It is a grave mistake to use the wheel and rim sizes that are not compatible or fitting tires that do not have a speed capacity. Vehicles often have tires with a load index that is lower than the original.
Driving on Under-inflated Tires
Rolling around on poorly inflated tires is surely going to increase the risk of a car accident as well as increase your monthly car bills. When the tire pressure isn’t correct, the tire sidewalls are especially susceptible to damage. Under lower pressure, the internal temperatures of the tires rise, and all it needs is a little bad bump to cause a blowout.
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How to Prevent a Flat Tire?
Although it is not always possible to avoid flat tires on any car, there are simple steps you can do to reduce your chances of blowing a tire or getting a flat while driving. Here are some pointers to prevent tire damages:
- Verify tire pressure: One of the best ways to prevent flat tires is to keep a close check on your tire pressure. Check the pressure with a car tire pressure gauge if you see that it appears low. In general, it’s a good idea to check the pressure in your tires before embarking on a lengthy road trip and every few weeks.
- Steer clear of construction zones: Sharp things such as nails, metal, staples, and other objects can puncture tires when left on the road, increasing the likelihood of a flat tire. Avoid driving through construction zones whenever possible. If you must, drive carefully and keep an eye out for any obvious dangers.
- Park in a garage: Whenever possible, park in a garage rather than on the street to prevent flat tires. It can lessen the possibility of vandalism when your tires might be cut.
- Tire replacement: Despite the high cost of tires, it’s critical to replace your tires on a regular basis to prevent flats. Depending on how frequently you drive, you should replace your tires every six to ten years. Avoiding tire replacement may make a flat tire and an accident involving tires more likely.
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Conclusion
Simply stay away from the mistakes mentioned above to maintain the safety and condition of your tires. Observe both your driving style and the state of the roads. Regular tire inspections will increase both your safety and fuel efficiency and it will prolong the life of your beloved.
Change the tires of the car frequently to promote even wear (unless the manufacturer advises differently). For instance, the tire locations should be rotated when converting summer tires to winter/snow tires in extreme weathers for the season.
