Well, National Tire Safety Week 2017 is nearly over, but you still have time to “celebrate” by checking your tires out.
The Rubber Manufacturer’s Association created National Tire Safety Week in 2001, and At Consortium Pool, we’re all about it. Tires are such a critical part of road safety. They literally carry everything, and they’re the only part of the vehicle that touches the road. By neglecting maintenance, drivers are putting themselves at risk for unnecessary accidents.
National Tire Safety Week is May 28 through June 3, 2017, and is observed by tire manufacturers and retailers educating drivers of all kinds about simple yet important practices to have to keep tires maintained.
No matter if you drive a regular car or a big commercial truck like the ones that are part of our industry, tire safety and maintenance is crucial. As part of National Tire Safety Week, many tire manufacturers and retailers offer free tire checks—however, if you don’t get around to doing this, there are basic things that you can do yourself in order to stay safe on the road.
This is a serious matter. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that during 2009 to 2013, commercial truck tire blowouts were accountable for 200 accidents and 223 fatalities on the road.
National Tire Safety Week is the perfect time to do the following tire-checking basics (but they’re also good to follow all year-round):
Tire Pressure
Be sure to check the pressure in your tires every month, including any spares. This means determining if they’re over-inflated as well as under-inflated. Your pressure check should line up with the regulations that have been set for the car or truck.
Double-Check Dual Tires
If the dual tires of a commercial truck get too close together, they can overheat or put too much strain on the bearings. Check to make sure that the dual tires have the regulated distance between them.
Tire Treads
Look at the tires’ wear bars frequently. If the wear bars are visible, you’re at risk for a blowout on the road due to the tire being too worn out.
Tire Valves
If a tire valve cap has gone missing, air will escape from the tire, causing the tire pressure to get low. That’s why it’s good to check to make sure that your tire valves are all capped.
Rotation, Balance, And Wear
Getting tires balanced and rotated can be a pain, but it’s so important. Unbalanced tires can create irregular wear on the treads, which can result in blowouts on the road. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, and should also be frequently checked for general wear such as sidewall damage (cuts, gouges, bubbles, etc.), cracking, or debris in the treads.
National Tire Safety Week was originally scheduled at the start of summer to remind families to double-check their tires before taking summer family vacations. However, these practices should be observed all year long.
At Consortium Pool, road safety of all kinds is our goal. That’s why we not only support National Tire Safety Week; we also work with commercial truck owner-operators and truck lines to provide drug screening programs. We want to do our part to prevent road accidents and keep individuals safe. If you’re in need of DOT-compliant drug and alcohol testing, please feel free to contact us.