Tire blowouts cause thousands of car accidents every year. While you cannot guarantee that they’ll never blowout, there are several safety tips you can follow to help prevent a tire blowout on the road. Most importantly, be proactive about tire maintenance. You’ll want to check both pressures and tread frequently to keep your tires in good shape. The next step in avoiding blowouts is to load the car and drive it safely. Learning what causes tire blowouts is key to preventing them.
How to Prevent a Tire Blowout: Stay Safe on the Road
Tire Maintenance – Pressure
The most important factor to consider when trying to prevent a tire blowout on the road is overall tire health. One key part of this is to keep an eye on your tire’s pressure. Cold air reduces the pressure in tires, and hot temperatures can raise it. Tire pressure issues are the leading cause of blowout events. Your car might be equipped with an automatic sensor that will alert you if your pressure is incorrect. However, sometimes these don’t show over-inflation or don’t register until the tire pressure is very low. It’s best to check your pressure manually once a month.
Tire Maintenance – Tread
Another aspect of tire safety that can help you prevent a tire blowout on the road is the tread. As tires get used, the tread on them gets worn down. Tires that are very old with bare tread can be more susceptible to blowouts. Replace your tires every 50,000-70,000 miles, or about every ten years. However, if your tires are looking bald or have tears, replace them sooner. An auto store should be able to check your tires for you and let you know if they are in decent shape.
Driving Safely – Weight
Prevent a tire blowout on the road by packing your car properly. Cars or trucks carrying more weight than allowed can cause tire blowouts. There should be guidelines for weight capacity in your car’s user manual. If you are planning to haul heavy loads, it’s best to consult the weight limit first.
Driving Safely – On the Road
Finally, one last factor in trying to prevent a tire blowout on the road is to drive safely. Try to avoid any hazards in the roadway that you see so that they don’t damage your tires. The black pieces of rubber that you often see on highways might look soft, but if you hit them with your car you’ll find that they are quite damaging. If possible, never run over them or any other objects in the street. It’s also helpful to maintain proper speed limits. Driving way too fast puts a ton of pressure on your tires, so keep your speed to the posted limit.
All in all, tire blowouts cannot be totally prevented. However, you can make yourself safer on the road by following these guidelines to prevent a tire blowout on the road. Maintain safety in your tires by frequently checking their pressure and tread. Load up your car in a safe manner that doesn’t put too much pressure on your tires. And always drive safely on the road, at the posted limit, and avoiding any objects in the road. Hopefully, by following these guidelines, you can reduce your chances of experiencing a scary time blowout.