Are Your Tires Dangerously Underinflated?

Did you know that low tire pressure, much like high blood pressure, can be unhealthy for your car? In fact, an estimated 11,000 tire-related crashes cause nearly 200 deaths each year according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), which credits underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles as a major cause of tire failure.

In April 2015 a driver in Bristol, Connecticut was charged with negligent homicide after allegedly striking a pedestrian on a snowy street, having lost control of a car with underinflated and bald tires. According to a local news report, three of the tires were inflated between 21 and 24 pounds per square inch (psi), though the recommended psi for the driver’s car was 32.

Significantly underinflated tires are dangerous because they can overheat, says Dan Zielinski, RMA’s senior vice president for public affairs. “Heat is the enemy of a tire. When tires are underinflated, heat builds up in the tire that can cause damage that may lead to tread separation. When that occurs, loss of vehicle control may occur.”

Related: Road Trip Checklist for Your Car

How to check your tire pressure

If you don’t know how to check your tire pressure — or you don’t know what the pressure should be — you’re far from alone. Just 17 percent of drivers know the right way to check tire pressure and half don’t know where to find their recommended pressure level according to a survey by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), which represents tire manufacturers.

You should check your tire pressure once per month. They will naturally deflate over time, as well as after encountering potholes or striking curbs or when the weather turns cool. They lose 1 to 2 pounds of pressure for every 10-degree temperature drop, according to the Utah Safety Council.

Related: How to Change a Flat Tire

To check and adjust your tire pressure:

Continued at:  http://www.safebee.com/travel/are-your-tires-dangerously-underinflated