This Week is the 2010 National Tire Safety Week
What better time to discuss tire related issues then during the 2010 National Tire Safety Week going on this week from June 6th – June 12th by the Rubber Manufacturing Association.
The leading cause of tire failure is improper inflation, especially under-inflation. Tires that are under inflated experience excessive flexing which generates excessive heat and causes the tire to expand. This build of pressure can cause a tire blowout, where the tire rapidly comes apart.
On May 20th 2010 Volvo sent out a recall notice to owners of Volvo’s 2008-2010 XC70 vehicles bringing to their attention the vehicle’s failure to imply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, “Tire Selection & Rims”.
The letter describes how the maximum inflation tire pressure is listed incorrectly on the Tire & Loading labels as 33psi, in the Owner’s Manual as 35psi and the Tire Pressure Monitoring system’s trigger level as 33psi. The correct maximum permissible inflation should be 36psi.
At first glance, the difference may seem slight, but it can lead to the under-inflation of the tires, resulting in premature tire failure, increasing the risk of tire blowouts and of crashes leading to vehicle damage, serious injury or death. Our firm’s North Carolina Crashworthiness Attorneys have handled many similar tire blowout cases. If you or someone you know has been injured due to a tire blowout, please contact the products liability attorneys with the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood to discuss your legal rights.Tire defects such as tread separation are another common cause of tire blowouts. Tread separation is when the tread peels off and separates from the tire casing due to a design or manufacturing defect. Tire blowout can lead to drivers losing control of their car and more often than not cause rollover.
Tire defects such as tread separation are another common cause of tire blowouts. Tread separation occurs when the tread peels off and separates from the tire casing due to a design or manufacturing defect. Tire blowout can lead to drivers losing control of their car and more often than not cause rollovers. Rollovers can result in serious injury or death due to occupant ejection, roof crush, or other structural damage. Our firm’s products liability attorneys have handled many rollover cases, and in most of those cases, tread separations were a leading cause of the loss of driver control. If you’ve been affected by a car or SUV rollover, please feel free to contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood to discuss your legal rights. Our SUV rollover attorneys will discuss your case at no charge.
A prime example of tire separation defect is the massive Bridgestone/Firestone recall of 3.85 million Radial ATX and Radial ATX II Tires and 2.7 million Wilderness AT Tires in 2000. Most of the tires were original equipment on Ford’s Explorer model. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that by Sept 2001 271 deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries resulted from these defects.
Tire Maintenance
By following basic tire and vehicle maintenance, drivers can eliminate preventable vehicle accidents. Here are a few of the guidelines listed in the NHSTA’s “Tire Safety – Everything Rides On It” Brochure:
• Maintain proper tire pressure: Find your vehicle’s certification label permanently attached to the vehicle’s door edge, door post, glove-box door, or inside of the trunk lid. The Label indicates the recommended tire size, tire inflation pressure, vehicle capacity weight and front & rear gross axle weight ratings.
• Tire Tread: The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding, especially when the road is wet or icy. In general, tires are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that let you know when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When they appear "even" with the outside of the tread, it is time to replace your tires.
• Tire Balance & Wheel Alignment: Although a qualified technician is required checking the tire balance and wheel alignment is a must to prevent vibration and shaking as well as to ensure the wheels are positioned correctly relative to the vehicle’s frame.
• Rotating Tires: Rotating tires from front to back and from side to side can reduce irregular wear (for vehicles that have tires that are all the same size). Look in your owner's manual for information on how frequently the tires on your vehicle should be rotated and the best pattern for rotation.
Click here for the complete the NHTSA’s Tire Safety brochure.
If you have any questions regarding your legal rights in regarding injury caused by tire blowouts or other vehicle defects please contact us the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood - 1-877-829-7211.
