Prevent Tire Blowouts: Tire Care Recommendations From Layton Carcare

You need your tires to be stable and inflated properly in order to keep your vehicle safe. If your tires become unstable, this can lead to an accident or a tire blowout. Tire blowouts are when your tires suddenly fail. They can happen for numerous reasons. While you cannot always prevent a blowout, you can reduce your risk of experiencing one through knowing the causes of tire blowouts and conducting proper tire maintenance. 

Here’s what you need to know about why tire blowouts can occur and what you can do to reduce your risk of experiencing one.

What Causes Tire Blowouts?

Tire blowouts can be caused by a number of factors. They tend to occur when people drive at high speeds, due to the heat buildup in the tires. Tire companies refer to mid-May through early October as “tire blowout season”, due to it being the hottest time of year, when people are more likely to drive farther, longer, and with heavier loads in their car.

Underinflation

Many tire blowouts occur due to underinflated tires. Not having enough air pressure can cause tires to flex beyond their limits, overheat, and lead the rubber to lose its bond to internal components.

High Speeds

You’re more likely to experience a blowout when driving on the freeway as opposed to in stop-and-go traffic. This is because when you’re traveling at a low speed, your tires won’t build up as much heat. This is not to say that you cannot experience a blowout at lower speeds, but that you are more likely to experience one at high speed.

Road Damage

You can blow out tires when you run over a nail, hit a pothole, or other such road damage. You must always keep an eye on the road and do your utmost to avoid running over road damage or hitting curbs.

Too Much Weight

Every vehicle has weight restrictions in order to avoid undue stress. Especially if you have uneven tread wear, too much weight can cause blowouts.

Uneven Tread Wear

Tires need to be rotated on a regular basis in order to help them wear evenly. If they wear unevenly, this increases your risk of a blowout. Your manufacturer’s recommendations will tell you about how often you should get your tires rotated.

Old/Defective Tires

Nothing lasts forever. You must replace your tires when they’re old and abide by any recalls. Having your tires regularly inspected will help you ensure your tires are in good condition and nothing needs to be recalled.

What You Can Do To Reduce Your Risk Of Tire Blowouts

General tire maintenance can help reduce your risk of a blowout, however, it’s crucial to mention that blowouts may still occur due to issues like manufacturer defects and road hazards. That said, here are some ways you can prevent tire blowouts.

• Check your tires’ inflation. As both over- and underinflated tires can result in tire blowouts, maintaining proper inflation is crucial.
• Have your alignment checked. This is cheaper than tires and may be free, depending on where you go. 
• Know your load rating and speed rating. This is a sticker found in the driver’s door jam that tells you the recommended tire and air pressure needed.
• Check your tires for unusual wear patterns or damage. This is easily done when parking your vehicle. Look at the tread of your tire to see if they are uneven or have unusual patterns. Cracking tires means they’re getting old, as they result from the rubber breaking down. Schedule a tire inspection and/or alignment check as needed.

• Check your spare. It can lose pressure over time. You don’t want to need your spare only for it to have a 20 PSI – basically a flat.
• Show your children how to change their tires. This way, if they ever get in a situation, they’re equipped with the necessary knowledge to at least put the spare on.
• Purchase the correct tires for your car or truck. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will specify the correct size and specifications you need. Putting the wrong tires on your vehicle can majorly impact handling.
• Have your tires balanced. Imbalanced tires can lead to issues like car suspension issues, uneven tire wear, poor handling, and more.
• Avoid large discount store, grocery store, or convenience store tires.
• Never overload your tires. This is one of the leading causes of tire failure. Too much weight causes structural damage and increased risk of sudden blowouts.
• Never install different tires on the left and right side of the car. Different tires may have different handling characteristics, tread patterns, and rubber compounds. This can mess with the handling and overall safety of your vehicle.
• Know the age of your tires. This is crucial, as tires need to be replaced about 4-5 years on average. Driving them too long can create unsafe driving conditions.

Tire Wear And What It Means

It’s only natural for tires to wear out over time, but it’s important to be aware of the different types of tire wear and what could cause it.

• Tread pattern baldness. Check the tread patterns and see what might be causing uneven wear.
• Alignment issues. This includes toe wear (thin outer or inner edge) and camber wear (exaggerated inner or outer edge).
• Out of balance. This shows as patch wear (patchy tread wear or spots).
• Inflation issue. You’ll see center wear (thin tread in center of tire) or edge wear (thin tread along edges).
• Worn out suspension. Here, you’ll see cup wear (diagonal or scalloped tread).

Tire Size Meanings

• A: Tire type
• B: Tire width
• C: Aspect ratio
• D: Construction type
• E: Wheel diameter (inches)
• F: Load index
• G: Speed rating

Aspect ratio is the width divided by the height of the sidewall.

For example, in 225/45R20  106Y:

• 225 is the width of the tire in millimeters. 
• 45 is the percent of the height of the side wall, approximately 101 millimeters.
• “R” means radial tire.
• 106 is the load rating. It has to do with the weight of the vehicle.
• Y is the speed rating of the tire.

Purchase tires with the correct “weight” for the car or truck you’re driving. 

You must ensure that your tires are less than 6 years old. Most tire shops will not repair your tires if they are more than 6 years old. 

Determining The Age Of Your Tires

The week and year the tire was made will be at the end of the string of letters and numbers on your tire. For example, in “DOT F123 45MV 3316”, 3316 is the week and year the tire was made. So, the 33rd week of 2016. If this is your car’s tires’ age, they’re definitely due for replacement. 

Replace Your TPMS If Needed

TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. As the name implies, this monitors your tire pressure and alerts you when your tires aren’t properly inflated. If your TPMS system is damaged, it might not warn you when your tires have low pressure, which can lead to dangerous driving conditions and increased risk of tire blowouts. 

Your TPMS can become damaged in instances such as a shoddy job replacing tires. It can also fail due to instances such as battery exhaustion. It’s important to replace your TPMS if needed for your safety and the safety of everyone else on the road.

New Tires Aren’t Immune To Blowouts

Unfortunately, even if you take excellent care of your tires and are mindful to have them replaced as needed, you may still suffer tire blowouts. There can be nails and other such debris on the road that can puncture even brand-new tires. Beyond road hazards, brand-new tires could also blowout due to manufacturing defects, improper installation, and inflation issues, the same as with tires that have seen some use.

Keep Your Vehicle Safe With Layton Carcare

Layton Carcare is here to see to your auto repair and autobody needs. Whether you need a routine oil change and tire rotation or whether your vehicle requires more extensive services like collision repair, trust our experienced professionals to provide you with the top-notch service you need to keep your vehicle safe.

Contact us to learn more about the services we provide or for any questions you may have.