Fatal car accidents reached a nine-year peak in 2016, prompting new worries about car safety. There are many ways to reduce the risk of serious car accidents in Hollywood or your community, and one of them involves ensuring your tires are safe.
Tires do a lot more than just keep the wheels on your car moving forward. They can also impact how quickly you can stop, how well your car maneuvers and how much you can control your vehicle. You don’t control how well manufacturers design your tires, but one simple thing you can control is tire pressure.
Underinflated or overinflated tires can be serious on the road, but keeping your tires safe by keeping them properly inflated is something any driver can do. Luckily, taking care of your tires is simple with these few tips:
- Read your car owner’s handbook. Information about your tires can be found on the tire, in your car’s manual, or even on your driver’s door. Read the instructions to find out about recommended tire pressure so you understand how much your tires need to be inflated. You’ll be able to find a recommended pressure which will help you keep your tires from being overinflated or underinflated.
- Fill your tires to the right level. Try to keep your tires at the right PSI requirement. You can inflate tires by using a service station pump. If your tires are overinflated, you can remove the valve and gently release some of the air by softly pressing on the needle inside the valve.
- Get a pressure gauge and use it. Repair stores and service stores can sell pressure gauges for just a few dollars. These can ensure you continue to monitor your tires. Make it a habit to check your tire pressure regularly to ensure it is the right PSI. Don’t just assume your tires correctly inflated by looking at them. Consider also buying a pump for your car, so you don’t have to go to a service station each time your PSI is off. Making tire pressure convenient can encourage you to take care of your tires.
- Check all four tires. All four tires should have the same air pressure. If even one is overinflated, it can cause problems in controlling your car.
- Address any tire problems promptly. If there is a slow leak or other problem with your tire, make sure you address it right away. Have the tire repaired or replaced by a professional. Even a slow leak can mean you end up putting yourself at risk by driving on underinflated or overinflated tires.
It pays to care for your tires. Properly inflated tires not only keep you safer, but they can help you save on gas by keeping your vehicle more efficient.
If you have been injured by a blown tire or by a manufacturers’ defect in your tires, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free, no obligation consultation at our Miami, Homestead, or Hollywood offices. We can even visit your home, office or workplace if you are too injured to travel to us.