The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approximates that every year, tire failures causes 11,000 motor vehicle crashes. Some of the most common causes of tire failure include the following. tread separation. blowouts. bald tires. and, underinflated tires. When a tire isn’t repaired correctly, it can put you at great risk for accident and injury….
How the TREAD Act is On Your Side
In 2000, Congress responded to the tragic outcome of a major tire recall involving Ford vehicles and Firestone tires. There were many fatalities related to problems with the tires, and the response spurred the creation of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act. With oversight from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety…
Check the Date: Are your tires too old?
Tires do not come with an expiration date in the way that food does, but they age and can become less effective or more dangerous after a certain number of years. Most manufacturers will tell you that the age of a tire is only one factor in determining its level of safety or usefulness. Other…
Peeled Cap on Radial and Bias Tires May Cause Accidents
Peeled caps on radial and bias tires can cause blowouts and accidents. Often, the cause of a peeled cap is loss of adhesion of the cap from the tire casing during the retreading processes. If all of these terms sound a bit foreign to you, read on for an explanation of what a peeled cap is, why…
Decoding Tire Markings
When it comes to parts of a car, there are few more important to vehicle stability, maneuverability, and safety than a car’s tires. Tires are responsible for carrying the weight of the vehicle, and require routine maintenance and replacement to guarantee that they’re performing at their best. Tire markings, however, remain a mystery to most…
Choosing the Right Rims for Your Vehicle
Tires are one of the most important parts of a vehicle, and greatly contribute to the overall safety of the car while driving. If a tire has a defect, isn’t the proper size, isn’t fitted correctly, or doesn’t receive proper maintenance, it can result in disastrous consequences – such as a tire blowout – that…
New VIN Recall Search Tool from NHTSA
A convenient new online tool to search for vehicle recall information is now available to the public. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced the release of this new recall search tool on SaferCar.gov. The tool allows vehicle owners or those shopping for a new vehicle to find information quickly and…
Child Passenger Safety Week (9/14-9/20) : How to Tell if Your Child is in the Right Car Seat
Car safety seats for children play a vital role in protecting your kids when driving in the car. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing a 2011 study in Pediatrics, car seat use reduces the risk for death to infants by 71 percent, and for toddlers by 54 percent. Sadly though,…
New Tire Tread Separation
When purchasing a new set of tires, consumers typically assume they will get a high-quality product that is free from manufacturing or design defects and that will ensure their safety while driving on the road. And in most cases, the tires perform well and do so without leading to accidents. Unfortunately though, some new tires,…