There are many reasons why you should take good care of your car. Not only is your vehicle a very expensive investment that you want to last as long as possible, but your safety may be at risk if your car is not performing at its best. One of the most overlooked factory scheduled auto maintenance requirements for ALL vehicles is tire care.
Tires must be in good condition at all times. And as soon as they start to show signs of wear, it’s time to replace them. Between tire replacement, your tires require regular rotations and balances, as well as daily air pressure monitoring.
If you don’t take good care of your tires, they can begin to lose the ability to do their job, which can put your safety at risk. Tire pressure is a common problem that can influence overall tire performance and safety. Be sure to routinely inspect your tires to verify that they are properly inflated; you don’t want them to be over-inflated or under-inflated.
The dangers of under-inflated tires
Bumps can form on the walls of the tires, which can weaken areas of the tires and put them at greater risk of exploding on the road.
Under-inflated tires will reduce fuel efficiency, affecting the driver’s budget and vehicle reliability.
Under-inflated tires will impede vehicular mobility, which can be dangerous in defensive driving situations and adverse weather conditions, and when navigating in small spaces.
The dangers of over-inflated tires
Over-inflated tires can cause the air temperature inside them to rise, which can lead to sudden blowouts while driving. They can also cause an imbalance of road contact between the four tires, which can make mobility and handling of vehicles difficult.
According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
A tire that is 25% above the recommended air pressure is 2 times more likely to be involved in a collision.
A tire that is 25% below the recommended tire pressure is 3 times more likely to be involved in a collision.
There are nearly 11,000 tire-related car accidents each year.
Almost 75% of punctures on the roads are the result of inadequate tire pressure.
Flat tire?
If it gets flat as a result of over or under inflation, you can try to repair it yourself if you have a spare tire or an emergency kit on the road. If you are unable to repair or replace your floor, you can contact a local towing company for 24-hour roadside assistance.
They can respond to your location in a short period of time, repair your tire, or tow it to the location of your choice. Whether it’s 3 a.m. or 5:30 a.m. rush hour, they have the resources to get you back on the road in no time.