The tires sold today last longer than those in the past. Believe it or not this can make the tires more dangerous. The older the tires the more likely they will fail. A tire failure can result in a loss of control and injuries or death from a resulting car accident. In the past the tire tread would wear away before the tire was old enough to fail from age. Now with longer lasting tread we need to check our tires for safety beyond just the amount of remaining tread. The following five measures will help you protect your family from injuries in preventable car accidents.

1. Monthly Air Pressure Checks. The tire pressure should be checked when the tire is still cold, that is before it has been driven more than a few miles. The correct safe pressure is usually listed inside the glove compartment or gas cap door or on a sticker on the doorjamb.

2. Observe the Weight Limit. Do not operate the vehicle above the safe weight limit listed for the vehicle. An overloaded vehicle heats up tires. Heat can cause tire failure. The safe vehicle weight is listed on the placard in the door jam of the vehicle and in the owner’s manual.

3. Check the Tread Depth. New tires average 10-11/32 inches of tread depth. The tread depth is needed to channel water to prevent hydroplaning in the rain and to provide traction in snow and mud. Legally the tread needs to be only 2/32 of an inch deep. This is usually the point where the wear bars on the tire are flush with the tread. An easy way to tell if the tread is too worn is to put a penny in the tire groove. If the top of Lincoln’s head is visible you need to change the tires in any driving conditions. If the Lincoln memorial is completely visible, you're at 6/32 inches or less of tread and you should replace the tires if you may be in snow. Put a quarter in the tread. If George Washington's head is completely visible, there is only 4/32 inches or less of remaining tread and you should replace the tire if you'll be driving in rain.

4. Check the Tread Wear. Examine the tires on the front and back for uneven tread wear. Uneven tread wear is often caused by improper wheel alignment or worn suspension components. If unchecked these problems can cause parts of the tire to wear out very quickly resulting in unforeseen tire failure. Always check the alignment and suspension before replacing tires to save the new tires from premature wear.

5. Check for Tire Defects. Examine the tires for cracking, cuts, foreign objects (nails etc...) or bulges in the sidewall and tread. These are signs of tire failure and you must replace these tires even if they have sufficient tire tread left.

Tire failure causes of thousand of car accidents every year. Please follow these steps to protect yourself and your family from the time, expense and potentially life altering injuries that can result from preventable automobile accidents. If you take these steps and you still have a tire failure you may have a defective tire. Defective tires can result from defects in the manufacture, design or installation of the tires.

Author: Attorney Edmund A. Normand. Mr. Normand received his B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Florida and his J.D. degree with high honors from the University of Texas. His practice is primarily in the area of general liability, product liability and automobile accident law. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with honors, 1986); University of Texas (J.D., with high honors, 1990). Beta Alpha Psi; Order of the Coif. Chancellors Honorary Society. Member: Orange County Bar Association (Medical-Legal Committee; chairman, 1996; vice Chairman, 1997); The Florida Bar (Member, Trial Lawyers Section); Florida Justice Association (Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Section, 1995-1997); The American Association of Justice. Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer (recent re-certification in 2007); Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite (Top 1.6% of Florida Lawyers); Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association; American Mensa. Frequent lecturer on Plaintiffs' personal injury topics, including Medical Malpractice, Automobile Litigation and Premises Liability.
Ednormand@whkpa.com. http://www.whkpa.com.