The Importance Of Tires In Car Crashes - Causes & Prevention
Tyres are the only contact between the vehicle and the surface. Despite it, car owners are more concerned about their engine, transmission, and other parts instead of their tyres. It leads us to believe that tyres are without a doubt, the most undervalued car components. If left unchecked, tires can be the source of major but preventable accidents.
Car accidents due to tyres might be a direct result of overloading or tread wear. Ensuring an ideal tyre pressure keeps the overall performance of the vehicle, especially braking at its best, and improves the durability as well. The recommended tyre pressure and maximum load capacity of each tire is clearly set out by the manufacturer, ensuring a safe driving experience.
The Importance Of Tires In Car Crashes
Now, this article looks at the role that tyres play in a car crash in more detail. Throughout the article, we break down different reasons for tyre related accidents.
Incorrect Tire Pressure
The greatest reason for tyre failure is incorrect tire pressure. Under-inflated and over-inflated tyre causes unnecessary flexing of the tyre sidewall, which prompts overheating that causes tread separation and break-ups in the tyre. This increases tyre-street contact patch, which in turn prompts poor overall performance, increased fuel consumption, and rapid wear of the tyre.
Overloading the Vehicle
A tire’s maximum load capacity is set out by the manufacturers. This load capacity can be found in a placard posted on the edge of front door, on the inside of the fuel cap, inside the glove box, or you can find the load index on the tyre itself. Loading a vehicle beyond the maximum load limit is likely to lead to tyre burst. Tire bursts are the cause of various accidents in the UAE.
Tyre Ageing - Old Tyres
Tyres that are over six years from the day of assembling ought not to be utilized again regardless of how much they have been used. The reason is that tires wear down naturally as well. Here are the reasons why a tire wears down naturally:
- Because of exposure to high temperatures, oxygen, and daylight. This exposure can cause tread break
- Hardening of the outside surface brought about by oxidation of the polymers under the impact of daylight.
External Impacts
There are plenty of external impacts that add to the wear and tear of tires. For example, potholes, sharp objects, nails, and so forth. This sort of harm prompts moderate loss of tyre pressure. In some cases, the external impact can totally compromise the integrity of the tyres.
Other Reasons
Here are some of the other reasons that can play a huge role in car cash on account of a tyre:
- Poor Wheel Arrangement
- Incorrect Toe Setting
How to ensure the soundness of the tyre?
According to experts from PitStopArabia here are ways you can ensure the soundness of tyre:
- Make sure your wheels have a proper wheel alignment
- Make sure that the tyre pressure is as per the manufacturer's recommendation, also check the tyre pressure at least once a month.
- Install TPMS in your vehicle if your vehicle never came with it
- Never surpass the load index or speed rating set out by the vehicle manufacturer
- Always use the correct size of the tyre in your vehicle
- Tyres with different sizes, features, and brands are not recommended to be blended in a vehicle. Always make sure that you install all of your four active tyres plus the spare one with the same brand, size, and features.
- Tyres as long as six years from the date of production ought to be changed. Also, tyres that have not been utilized previously yet are as old as six years ought to likewise be changed.
Conclusion
Tyres are attributed a significant job in the safety of a vehicle. As said before, since they are the main contact between the vehicle and ground, they ought to be given adequate care and attention. The sort of wear in a tyre can let you know if the vehicle needs wheel alignment, or on the off chance that it needs a toe arrangement. Additionally, the kind of wear can tell you a lot about tyre pressure, so constantly keep an eye on your tyre.