Temps rise & so do number of blowouts
As temperatures continue to rise, so does the dreaded tire blowout.
It is a real problem, especially in the summer. There are ways to prevent it from happening, but nothing is 100% fool proof.
There’s a long list of reasons a driver could experience a tire blowout. We don’t have time to address them all, but let’s start with a top-5 list and then break down (no pun intended) a few of them to get a better understanding of what happens:
1. Heat/Weather
2. Driver Negligence
3. Defective Tires
4. Overweight
5. Potholes/Object on the road
Obviously heat and weather are out of anyone’s control, but it can be one of the leading causes of tire blowouts. It is exponentially worse between mid-May and early October due to the rising temperatures across the country. Driving for long periods of time in high temperatures puts a lot of strain on tires. Add in even hotter temperatures on the road itself, and it’s no surprise the damage it can cause.
Driver Negligence and defective tires could go hand in hand at times. Drivers are required to do pre and post trip inspections, primarily for safety. One of the parts they should inspect are the tires. They need to confirm they are inflated properly and make sure they are not overworn- both of which could lead to tread separation if not properly addressed. Drivers also need to look for any defects that are visible. Not all defects are visible, some are inside the tire. These types of defects are likely to cause tires to blow when they go over potholes, broken glass, or bumps in the road.
There are strict weight guidelines for multiple reasons, but one is definitely tire capability. Overloading cargo can put too much pressure on tires and cause them to explode. It is important for drivers to go scale if there is any question that the load could be overweight.
Obviously, no one wants to be in that situation. Tire blowouts can cause serious accidents and a lot of damage. It is vital that all precautions are taken and that everyone remain calm and in control in the event that it does happen. And a friendly reminder: if you see a truck (or anyone for that matter) on the side of the road, please pull over and/or slow down. It’s a stressful situation by itself, let’s all do our part to not make it any worse.
