Introduction
I average about 50,000 miles a year in four different vehicles. I’ve been
driving for 56 years, 54 on the roads of the world. What I’m going to do here is lend some
of my experience to the work of managing a moving vehicle, whether it’s the family car, a
motor home, a truck, or some sporty toy you take out of its cocoon only when the sun
shines. I am not affiliated with any safety councils or associations so what you find in these posts is from my experience alone. I hope it helps you be a better driver.
About Tires
1- Connection to the planet. When you are zipping along in the vehicle of your choice, your tires are the only things touching the earth. Ponder that a while. Four small patches of a rubber composite less than a square foot each.
When I was a teenager, I bought recapped
tires for my rusty 1950 Ford, much like trucking companies use on tractor
trailers. You’ve all seen remnants of
them along interstate roads. When one of
them comes apart on the big rigs there are many other tires on the road to mitigate any loss of control. When one
comes apart on a 1950 Ford traveling at highway speed, it’s a much different
story. It is a scary experience trying
to stop the beast when one of it’s feet is broken. I was lucky to accomplish it
without losing control. I decided then
that I would always buy the best tire I could afford. I have had no tire trouble since.
2 - Air. Tires need it, but how much? If you go by the car manufacturer, the amount might be a little low (lower pressure = softer ride). There was actually a big flap a decade or so back when Ford Explorers (I believe) started having tire failure issues. One problem turned out to be they recommended something like 26lb pressure in the tires. When the vehicles were driven for a time at highway speeds, the tires overheated and nasty things happened. The guys at CAR TALK can help with this.
A number of years ago a friend asked me to check out his '66 Corvette because it was fishtailing wildly on acceleration (how can a guy not want to light them up with a 'Vette?). After checking it myself (what can I say?) I checked the tires. The pressure in the rear tires differed by about ten pounds, a dangerous situation in any vehicle but deadly in one with a limited-slip differential, standard equipment on this car. I made sure all tires were properly inflated, rechecked the acceleration and returned the car safer than before.
So, think about your tires. Buy the best you can afford. Check them frequently for wear and inflation.
Stay safe.
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