Each year there are approximately 300,000 automobile accidents in the United States, with more than 40,000 fatalities. Typically, there are numerous causes that contribute to accidents, some factors may be difficult to determine in an accident's aftermath. Recently, accidents as a result of tire failure have made big news, with tire companies and vehicle manufacturers paying out damages in class action lawsuits. Although difficult to determine, over and under inflated tires may be prove to be a significant factor in an accident.

Tire Specifications

All tires are different and are installed differently on different vehicles. Tire pressure specifications are listed on the end panel of the driver's side door of most cars and trucks. Failure to follow tire specifications not only decrease tire life, but also can significantly affect the safety of the car or truck. Tire manufacturers recommend you take the following steps to ensure proper inflation:

• Check the tire pressure weekly using a quality tire gauge
• Check the pressure in the morning when the tires are cool
• Add air as needed, following the recommended pressures

How Tire Pressure Affects Traction

As tire pressure decreases, the contact with the surface area of the road increases. At high rates of speed, this can cause significant amounts of friction on the tire, resulting in overheating and potential blowouts. Conversely, increased tire pressure decreases the surface area contact between the tire and the road, providing less traction, especially on slippery roads.

Over/Under Inflated Tire Related Accidents

Both over inflated tires and under inflated tires can cause problems that lead to car or truck accidents.

• Over inflated tires can causes decreased surface traction in general, leading to potential loss of thread on the part of the tire that is in contact with the road. The life of the tire is shortened, giving people the false impression that the tires are in good condition if not monitored weekly.
• Under inflated tires can cause numerous dangerous problems and may result in accidents, including uneven wear on the outer portions of the tire. The tire runs under greater pressure and friction, which may cause them to over heat and may lead to tire blowouts. Catastrophic failure of a tire at highway speeds can lead to automobile accidents.

Driver Responsibility

While most other vehicle components either work or not and require little intervention by the driver, monitoring and maintaining accurate tire pressure is a driver responsibility. In the event of an accident, even with a catastrophic tire failure, it may end up being the driver's fault for the failure of the tire. Tire manufacturers will vigorously defend their product and try to blame the driver for not maintaining proper tire pressure of possible.

Manufacturing Defects and Design Flaws

Despite the fact that tires require constant monitoring by the driver, there are many cases of tire failure due to manufacturer defects or design flaws. These manufacturers may be held liable under product liability provisions of the law. If the driver can prove that the tires were well maintained, that will go a long way to proving a manufacturers defect, or possibly incorrect specifications provided by the carmaker. Although it may be difficult to prove, the Firestone/Ford tire failures of 2000 are proof that tire and car manufacturers may be successfully held liable for damages.