High temps + low pressure = potential for disaster

With soaring temperatures likely to afflict much of the nation for a few more weeks, failing to inspect your tires and keep them properly inflated could be a deadly mistake.

When a tire blows or a pet darts into the road, even veteran drivers can be startled, get into trouble and over-correct. The result can be disastrous -- the vehicle often veers off the road, out of control and doesn’t stop until it strikes a tree, bridge pylon or another vehicle.

Summer’s sizzle increases the danger. Nicole Nason, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that recent NHTSA research showed that hot weather can also affect tire aging, particularly in warmer regions.

"Overloaded vehicles, under-inflated tires, and hot weather can all combine to possibly turn a family vacation into a horrific nightmare,” Nason said. "Properly maintained tires improve the steering, stopping, traction and fuel economy of your vehicle. Under-inflated tires or worn down treads are a major cause of failure."

Show HotTires.wmv at www.nhtsa.dot.gov

A survey by the tire industry this year found that 85 percent of drivers don’t check tire pressure or do it incorrectly. Each year, NHTSA estimates, crashes associated with tire problems claim about 660 lives and injure 33,000 people.

For more info on tire care:

http://www.safercar.gov/Tires/Index.htm
http://www.tiresafety.com/ (you can sign up for monthly email reminders to check your tires’ air pressure)