An estimated 6,000 vehicular crashes in the United States each year are caused by improper vehicle maintenance and defective tires. Correspondingly, it is safe to say that tire maintenance and road travel tire safety cannot be emphasized enough.

There are many factors that lead to tire failure. From both the manufacturers and consumers perspective, under inflation is by far the leading cause of tire failure. A tire can be possibly 50% deflated and still not be visibly noticeable. Our eyes deceive us into not checking air pressure when required. Studies prove that tires can lose 1 psi (pounds per square inch) under normal conditions. Also, they will lose 1 psi for every 10°F drop in temperature. This can be extremely dangerous especially when the tire pressure is low and the vehicle happens to be carrying extra weight. The damaging heat increases as air pressure drops. This can cause the tire to burn from the inside. Studies also indicate not only are under inflated tires more prone to damage and failure, but they can lead to higher fuel costs by as much as 3 to 5¢ per gallon.  Similar to under inflation, over inflation is another problem with tires. Overloading too much air inside a tire can cause it to blow up or cause extensive damage to the tire and the vehicle.

Another factor that affects the manufacture of tires for road travel and safety-testing process would be the type of tread used on the tires. Tires are constructed in many different ways because of the various purposes they serve. Due to this, tires are made of different types of rubber. Softer rubber is used for summer or when the tires need better traction, for example in car races such as NASCAR. Tires are also made out of harder types of rubber to provide long lasting performance. This is why tires are manufactured in different sizes and tread patterns.  The tread wear on the rubber indicates whether the tire needs to be replaced or not. You can check tread depth by placing the edge of a penny upside-down into the grooves of the tire’s tread. If the head is easily visible, it is time for new tires. Tires should also be rotated every 5000 miles. This is to ensure that the tires wear out evenly. The three main tips for tire safety would be:

Inflate:  Check your monthly tire pressure

Rotate: Rotate wheels every 5000 miles (8000 kilometers)

Evaluate: Routinely look for signs of wear or damage.

In my opinion, the tire recall was absolutely necessary. There was a massive problem and something had to be done. After an interview with the Garry Crigger, the company’s executive vice president, he said that heat could be a contributing factor. The vast majority of incidents were in the southern states of Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, which suggests there might be a direct correlation between heat and tire performance,” Crigger said. “Most of the incidents we have reviewed indicate improper maintenance or damage to the tires, which is often caused by under-inflation of tires. Under-inflated operation of any tire generates excessive heat, which can lead to tire failure.”  The procedure used by the company was very effective. After experimenting, it was proven that the vehicle tip over was not actually their fault. The vehicle tipped over when there was a lack of air in the tire and it was driven over a hot climate. As discussed before, for every 10°F change in temperature a tire loses 1 psi. It was up to the consumers to understand the climate changes and then take precautions based on necessities.  Another method that the company could’ve handled this issue would be by providing a free service checkup for every vehicle purchased with that certain brand of tire. This way, the company could’ve avoided the law suits filed against them by providing a way of reimbursement for their consumers. This would make the consumers happy, producers happy and the consumer groups left without any doubt.