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| 17 Tires |
Truck tire blowout, often caused
by defective tires, is a very serious road hazard that often results
in collisions with injuries and fatalities. We have all probably
seen the remnants of a blown truck tire scattered across a highway,
and many of us had to do some skillful maneuvering to avoid running
over these "road gators" (as they are called) or to avoid
them hitting our vehicles after the car in front of us has run over
them.
Debris littering the highways causes over 25,000
accidents and at least 100 deaths each year in the United States
and Canada. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that blown
tire pieces are the number one road debris.
Importance of Proper Inflation
Studies have shown that most tire and scrap rubber
debris on the roadways is caused by under-inflation of tires, which
makes the tire susceptible to cuts and flats. When a truck tire
comes apart, it can often cause a failure in the other tires, either
from a puncture from the debris or from other tires having to carry
a disproportionate share of the load, which causes overheating and
tire failure. |
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Most tire-related truck accidents
are caused by improper tire inflation. These accidents are avoidable;
truckers need to maintain the proper inflation for a given tire
size and load. It is not the tire, but the air inside the tire that
carries the weight of the vehicle, absorbs shock and keeps the tire
in its proper shape so it can perform as designed. This is the single
most critical factor for getting the safest and longest life out
of tires.
Tires flex when they roll, bending the tire's rubber
and steel cords. The flexing generates heat, and tire wear is the
result of friction created between the road's surface and the tread
as the tire rolls along. Heat is a tire's worst enemy. A tire that
is improperly inflated does not roll as smoothly or as easily as
it was designed to roll.
When tires are over-inflated, excessive wear occurs
at the center of the tread because it will bear the majority of
the vehicle's weight. Over-inflated tires tend to not absorb road
hazards like debris in the road and potholes, increasing the risk
of sustaining a puncture or impact damage. |
Tire pressure should only be checked
when a tire is cold (before a vehicle is driven or has been driven
less than a mile). Once a vehicle has been driven, tires warm up
and there is an increase in air pressure resulting in an inaccurate
reading. After driving a truck, a "hot" tire can take
several hours to cool down.
Tire pressure should be checked regularly, as often
as once per week with a properly calibrated tire gauge. Kicking
or thumping the tires is not an effective way to see if they need
air. Just as you don't thump on the hood to see if you need oil,
you don't thump on the tire to see if you need air.
Alignment also needs to be checked on a regular
basis. A truck driver, while inspecting his truck, should be on
the lookout for wheel problems and tire injuries. Rubbing your hand
along the tread and sidewalls to feel for problems like flat spots,
cuts, shoulder wear, bulges, sidewall damage, etc. is a good way
to check for obvious problems. These simple and quick checks can
help you avoid, or at least minimize the number of, catastrophic
accidents.
All drivers should stop immediately once a tire
problem is detected. Even continuing on to the nearest rest stop
or weigh station can be disastrous. Tires driven with improper air
pressure will eventually come apart, and the results can be deadly. |
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Maintaining proper air pressure
in all tires is absolutely imperative while driving your truck across
the nation's highways. Ensuring your tires are properly inflated
just may save your life and the lives of those traveling beside
you.
If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident
in Missouri or Illinois, please visit the website of the experienced
truck
accident lawyers at Brown & Brown, Attorneys at Law
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Fugaro |
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