Tires are a vital part of a vehicle. It is important to ensure tires are in top condition at all times, as they are the point of contact between the vehicle and the road. Failure to do so leads to the obvious consequence, accidents.
This article discusses the influence of defective tires in a truck accident. We have chosen trucks because the effects of an accident involving a truck are much greater than those of other vehicles.
Suppose you are involved in an accident with a truck. What do you do? The obvious first step is to seek medical help. The next step is to approach a lawyer, specifically one with expertise in truck accidents. Not only is it easy to claim compensation with the help of truck accident lawyers, but they can assist you in proving your claim and negotiating with insurance adjusters.
Here are the most common tire defects and the role they play in an accident.
Old Tires
As with anything else (with the exception of wine), the older a tire gets, the worse it becomes. Not just truck tires, any tire degrades over time. A tire needs to be replaced if it is more than 6 years old, whether you use it or not. If your truck operates on older tires, you have an increased chance of an accident. Also, certain conditions, like hot climates or frequent heavy loading, can speed up the aging process.
Another thing that truck drivers who buy new tires ignore is how long it has been on the shelf. The new tires you purchase aren’t exactly new since they’ve been sitting on the shelves for a while.
Tread Separation
Tread separation is a phenomenon in which the tread (the outer part of the tire) comes off from the rest of the tire. When left unchecked, this can cause further damage to your tires. On top of that, tread separation leads to loss of control of the truck, which, in turn, causes accidents.
If your truck starts vibrating when hitting certain speeds, then your tires’ treads are on their way out. Replace your tires as soon as possible.
Overfilling or Underfilling
Tire inflation is a science in itself. Under-filling or over-filling tires can cause problems that may have disastrous consequences if left unchecked.
Underfilled tires trap excessive heat. This, in turn, paves the way for tire damage or poor vehicle handling. Underfilling also interferes with the wear pattern of the tires and fuel economy.
An overinflated tire, on the other hand, will have a much smaller contact patch. This forms a circular patch with the road surface, greatly reducing traction while promoting irregular wear.
Another option to consider is maintaining proper inflation levels across all the tires in your truck. An inflation pressure mismatch will cause the vehicle to drag to the side with the lower pressure.
Tire Blowouts
A tire blowout occurs when a part of the tire explodes due to a sudden loss of air pressure. A tire blowout may cause catastrophic damage since most of them happen when the vehicle is in motion. Also, the damage is not just limited to the truck; other motorists may be involved as well.
These are the main causes of tire blowouts.
- Air pressure issues
- Damage from road hazards
- Poor tire maintenance
- Exceeding the manufacturer’s load recommendations
- Underfilling
Given the size of trucks, drivers and trucking companies must prioritize vehicle maintenance. Because when truck accidents happen, they seldom involve just one vehicle, Hence, it is vital to keep the components of the truck in top shape.
All the tire defects in this article can be avoided by regular maintenance and safe driving. Knowledge about your truck and its workings could go a long way towards preventing accidents.