We can all agree that distracted driving is a real problem today. In an age of smartphones and in-car infotainment systems, there’s no shortage of distractions for drivers. There’s also evidence that distracted driving is dangerous: a study by Car and Driver magazine found that sober drivers who were texting or reading email behind the wheel took significantly longer to react to an alert than drivers with a blood alcohol content of .08, a common legal standard for intoxication. What it means is that device-distracted driving is more dangerous than DUI.
Distracted driving and DUI aren’t the only major causes of accidents, injuries and death, however. An experiment conducted by Bridgestone Tires and reported on by the Atlanta Journal Constitution found that poor tire maintenance can be as dangerous as distracted driving. Poor tire maintenance can lead to premature tire wear, a flat tire or even a blowout, all of which can result in dangers on the road. To reduce the risk, ensure you’re keeping an eye on the health of your tires, including pressure.
“The most important thing about tires is inflation pressure. The tire can’t function without the proper inflation pressure — they can’t give you the life that you want,” Keith Willcome, project engineer for Bridgestone Americas, told the AJC during the experiment at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. “Check them once a week — when you get gas is a good time to do that. Look at your tire and make sure you don’t see any cuts, scrapes, bulges, bumps, cracks forming.”
Regular alignments and rotations help keep tire wear even and prolong tire duration. By having a professional regularly inspect your tires, dangerous irregularities are more likely to be discovered. Most drivers don’t have an expert, trained eye to spot problems. What they might feel, however, is vibration or the car suddenly driving in a different way than usual. This is usually a sign that your tires may need to be looked at.
To extend the life of your tires and ensure that your car is safe and drivable, schedule professional checkups for your tires. Contact us at Tire Country Auto Repair to schedule a full-service check-up and maintenance session for your tires. Enfield, Connecticut-based Tire Country sells and maintains all brands of passenger vehicle and light truck tires as well as industrial tires. Our staff will help you understand the basics of tire care and maintenance so you can get the most out of your tires and stay safe.
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