Good Tires Are Crucial for Vehicle Safety

By Karen Johnston April 3, 2014

Quick facts

Underinflated tires are involved in 20 percent of all crashes on national highways.
Flat tires and blowouts are the leading cause of vehicle breakdowns nationwide.
Unbalanced tires create vibrations that reduce both handling precision and driver comfort.
Tire age affects safety independent of visible tread depth.

Tires rank among the most critical safety components on any vehicle. Maintaining proper tread depth, correct pressure levels, balanced weight distribution, and timely replacement of damaged tires, whether cracked or gouged, proves essential for safe operation. We recommend tire inspections during every oil change service if vehicle owners lack the time or expertise to monitor tire conditions independently.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has documented several concerning statistics:

Flat tires and blowouts represent the leading cause of vehicle breakdowns on national highways
Twenty percent of all vehicle crashes on national highways correlate with underinflated tires
Underinflation reduces fuel efficiency and traction while increasing hydroplaning risk and blowout likelihood
Improper pressure compromises vehicle handling and accident risk

Balanced tires distribute mass evenly when mounted on wheels and axles. Unbalanced tires create vibrations in steering wheels and seats that undermine handling and safety. Proper tread depth ensures adequate traction during acceleration, deceleration, and braking. Tire age significantly impacts overall vehicle maintenance effectiveness.

Maintaining safe tire conditions reduces failure risks, personal injury, and property damage. Regular inspections, pressure checks, proper balancing, and rotation schedules extend tire lifespan while protecting occupants and other road users.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions

How do I know when a tire is too old to be safe, even if the tread looks fine?

Rubber compounds degrade from oxidation and UV exposure over time, regardless of miles driven. Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires after six to ten years from the date of manufacture, even if tread depth appears adequate. The manufacture date is molded into the sidewall as a four-digit DOT code, where the last four digits indicate the week and year of production. Cracks in the sidewall or tread grooves are a visible sign of age-related deterioration.

Why does my steering wheel shake only at certain speeds and not others?

Speed-specific vibration is the classic symptom of an out-of-balance tire or wheel. When a wheel assembly has uneven weight distribution, it creates a resonance at a particular rotational frequency, which corresponds to a specific road speed. Balancing the wheel by adding small weights at precise locations eliminates this resonance. If balancing does not resolve the issue, a bent wheel or a tire with a flat spot or internal belt separation should be investigated.

What is the correct way to check tire pressure, and does it matter if the tires are warm?

Tire pressure should be checked when the tires are cold, meaning the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours or driven less than a mile at low speed. Heat generated by driving increases air pressure by 4 to 8 PSI, which would cause an overreading if checked while warm. The correct inflation spec is listed on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb, not on the tire sidewall. The sidewall number is the maximum rated pressure, not the recommended operating pressure.

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