When it comes to vehicle maintenance, we focus on the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and maybe the steering. We tend to forget one of the most important components: The Tyres. Unfortunately, tyre safety is often ignored by many vehicle owners.
The tyre is the only component of the vehicle that is constantly in contact with the ground. Even the most powerful vehicle cannot go anywhere if its tyres are not good. Safety features such as ABS or ESP rely on good tyres for their functioning.
Tyres do more than just roll and take the vehicle forward or backwards. They also have to take the load of the vehicle and keep the vehicle in balance while moving. Any damage to the tyres can be catastrophic for the vehicle and its occupants. In this article, we will look at how tyre failures cause crashes and how to keep your tyre, and in turn yourself, safe.
Crashes due to Tyre Failures
The first step to solve a problem is to understand it. I have come across many crashes due to tyre failures in my crash investigations. Most of these crashes were a result of poor tyre maintenance. Let us look at these issues in detail.
Under or Over-inflating tyres
Tyres have a pressure rating for optimal use. Unfortunately, this rating is often ignored leading to under or over-inflation of the tyres. An increase or decrease in this pressure leads to poor handling and improper tyre wear.
A tyre under constant wear is at a high risk of “bursting”. Tyre bursts can cause a vehicle to swerve or even flip over.
Insufficient tread depth
The constant friction between the tyre and the ground causes the tyres to lose their tread and become “bald”. A tyre without insufficient tread depth loses grip and will eventually start slipping. Vehicles with bald or smooth tyres, especially in the rear, are highly culpable of aquaplaning/hydroplaning on wet roads.
Hydroplaning is caused when the tyre tread is insufficient to displace the water underneath. This causes the water to build up under the tyre and the tyre begins to slide. A vehicle that has aquaplaned may “fish-tail” and start to rotate! Even an advanced safety feature such as Electronic Stability Control won’t be useful in such a scenario.
Worn-out or “hard” tyres
Old tyres tend to become hard due to the heat after repeated use. Hard tyres are susceptible to cracks and tears along the tread, shoulder, or sidewall. If such tyres are not changed, the cracks deepen leading to pressure loss and an eventual burst.
Improper Wheel Alignment
Though not directly related to the condition of the tyre, wheel alignment plays an important role in tyre wear and function. An out-of-alignment wheel will lead to vehicle instability and even a crash!
Tread separation
Tread separation is a phenomenon in which the tread of the tyre separates from the tyre completely. This is dangerous as the tyre loses grip and the vehicle loses stability. The common causes of tread separation are tyre wear, improper tyre repair or re-treading, or even manufacturing defects. A new tyre that has suffered a tread separation needs to be immediately reported to the manufacturer.
Unsuitable or incompatible tyres
Every vehicle manufacturer provides the ideal tyre specification for their vehicle. The specifications are based on the vehicle’s weight, suspension, and brake configuration among other things. A tyre that does not satisfy the specification will have a higher chance of wear-tear, loss of pressure, or an alignment issue. Even worse is to use tyres of different specifications on the same vehicle! A vehicle with different specced tyres will have an imbalance!
How to maintain tyre safety
Let us look at ways to improve tyre safety. Preventing tyre failures is not a difficult task. All we need to do is be alert and proactive by taking the following steps:
Maintain adequate tyre pressure
Over or under-inflation of the tyres is one of the primary causes of tyre failure. It is necessary to maintain optimum tyre pressure. The optimum pressure for your vehicle’s tyres is provided by the manufacturer at the inside of the B-pillar. You should be able to see it once you open the driver’s door. However, keep in mind that the pressure mentioned on the badge is the “cold pressure” i.e. the pressure when the tyre is cold or not moving. The pressure in a tyre can increase up to 4 psi even if the vehicle has run 2km.
Ensure that your vehicle’s tyres are properly inflated by regularly monitoring the pressure. Ideally, tyre pressure should be checked once every 15 days. You can measure tyre pressure using one of the following ways:
- At the fuel station. The easiest method to check and adjust tyre pressure. However, keep in mind that most machines are rarely calibrated. This can cause measurement errors.
- Measuring it yourself using a pressure gauge. Having a gauge gives you the flexibility to measure the pressure any time you want. Tyre gauges are handy and cheap. Ensure that the gauge is of good quality as low-quality gauges have a high margin of error.
- Using a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). A TPMS is a handy tool that gives a real-time view of the tyre pressure on your dashboard. Although some cars come inbuilt with a TPMS, you can also get an aftermarket TPMS. Just ensure that the installation is done correctly through a trained technician.
Make sure that the tyres are not “bald”
A bald tyre is a tyre that barely has any tread left. Any tyre with a tread depth lower than 1.6mm is considered a safety risk and should be changed.
It is also recommended to change tyres based on road conditions. The wetter the road, the more tread depth required. I have seen tyres with even a 2.5mm tread depth get aquaplaned in heavy rains or wet roads. The best way to measure the tread depth is by getting a tread depth gauge. Many tyre pressure gauges also double up as tread measurement devices. That is why I consider these gauges as one of the essential road safety items for a vehicle.
Inspect the tyre for damage or signs of wear
As a tyre gets old, it will develop plenty of cracks along the shoulders and sidewalls. If left attended, these cracks can lead to a tyre puncture or burst.
Do a periodic check of the tyres for any signs of wear. Tyres should also be checked for any sign of damage, especially if you have been or plan to be on rough terrain or a place where the tyres can get exposed to sharp objects. Even minor damage can lead to air leakage or tyre burst. Use a tyre specialist for a tyre interior inspection.
Check for wheel balancing or alignment issues
An improperly aligned or balanced wheel will cause uneven wear of the tyre. Luckily, we can notice these issues e.g. vehicle pulling to one side or steering instability. Immediately check wheel alignment if you notice that your vehicle is not stable even with straight steering.
Get the tyre replaced from a trusted source
Many tyre repair shops just use a “quick fix” solution to get you moving temporarily. Get a tyre repaired by a trusted or reputed shop. In case of an emergency where you have to get the tyre repaired at a roadside shop, always get the tyre checked later.
Know when to replace the tyre
A well-maintained tyre will last longer than its normal life. But, sooner or later all tyres need to be replaced. You need to replace your tyres when:
- The tyre has run 30000km or is older than 5 years, whichever is sooner.
- The tread depth has gone below 2mm (or 3mm if you plan to drive in wet conditions)
- The tyre has sustained severe damage to the sidewall or shoulder. It is not recommended to repair these tyres as the tyres have lost their structural integrity.
- Excessive wear and tear is visible on the tyre.
- The tyre tread has separated. Tyres can be re-treaded. But, you need to ensure that you do it at a reliable shop.
Tips for buying a new tyre
There are some rules that you need to follow while buying a new tyre:
- Only get a tyre as per the specifications recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
- If you are planning to get a pair of new tyres, put them in the rear. This is because as the rear tyres are not directly connected to the steering, any loss of grip in the rear tyre will be hard to detect. Use older tyres on the front wheels.
Tyre safety = Our safety
As Indian roads get newer and smoother, the driving duration and speeds will increase. With the increase in vehicle speeds, our vehicle’s tyres will have to work even harder to maintain stability. The results could be devastating if the tyres are not maintained.
Do regular checks for your tyres, especially before a long journey. Tyre safety is one of the duties of every Defensive Driver.
If you neglect your tyres, you are putting yourself at risk. Do not forget that your safety is always in your hands.
Last Updated on June 6, 2023 by RSG