Car tires are vulnerable to flats, punctures, tread wear, and other failures. You might have seen cars on the side of the road while driving down the highway or interstate, stranded in the middle of nowhere with tires that have failed to function due to lack of awareness. So, how often do you check your tires? Do you know the safety issues that are associated with your car? Here are some important tire safety issues which car owners should know about:

1. Don’t drive a car with a flat tire
No matter the distance, do not drive with a flat tire. When the tires are flat, not only will it be destroyed when you drive on it, but also the performance of the car on the road will be affected. Every groove and bump will feel like you are losing control of the steering wheel, compromising braking control and even activating unwanted anti-lock brake activation. This car tire safety guideline should be taken care of.

2. Don’t drive with over-inflated tires
Over-inflated tires can lead to bad blowouts because the flat contact patch balloons out a little, with only the center part of the tread making contact with the road. This wears out the center section very quickly, reducing traction and causing tire blowouts easily.

3. Don’t drive with under-inflated tires
Driving with under-inflated tires reduces fuel efficiency and is a threat to safety. Under-inflated tires can pinch and pop very easily on sudden impact with a pothole or the curb, causing blowouts or leaks.

4. Keep an eye on uneven tread wear
Tires wearing unevenly are signs of bigger problems with your car. Uneven tire wear could be a sign of suspension and steering problems or a separated belt on a tire.

5. Do not downgrade the load range on your tires
The load range of the tires on the vehicle are matched to the vehicle’s abilities and its usage. If the tires aren’t rated heavy enough for the kind of usage that they are undergoing, then tire problems such as tire separation, blowouts, and abnormal wear could be seen.

6. Don’t ignore tire tread
Do not drive with worn-out tires as they lack traction for acceleration, steering, and braking. Worn out tires could cause hydroplaning on wet roads and sliding on slippery surfaces such as snow. If this is ignored, the safety of the car tire will be compromised.

7. Don’t rely on spare tires
Spare tires should not be used for driving long distances. These tires work for distances up to 50 miles and for speeds up to 50 miles/hour. Using spare tires often may cause the tire to wear off easily. Make sure you check your tread wear indicators before you leave for a long drive. Also, remember to keep your spare tire inflated.

8. Avoid using unmatched tires
Unmatched tires, including tires with different tread depths, could result in harmful tension and cause the tires to blowout or the car to swerve unnaturally. Also, improperly patched tires could also result in a blowout. For instance, tires patched on the rounded shoulder of the tire or the sidewall could lead to a sudden loss in tire pressure.