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Tire Safety: How Old Is Too Old?
When thinking about tire safety, it is important to consider two things: age and use. Vehicles driven daily are typically driven 15,000 miles a year. But there are situations where cars put on even fewer miles. This includes: being driven only on the weekends, never driving in the rain, show cars, and cars that are stored for extended periods of time. So, some tires on these types of cars put on less than 100,000. But it doesn t mean that they are safe tires. Tires deteriorate over time and can age out wear out before they wear out. In a statement from the British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) issued on June 5, 2001 regarding the age of tires they state, “BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tires should not be put into service if they are over 6 years old and that all tires should be replaced 10 years from the date of their manufacture.” Tire age can be accelerated by a variety of environmental factors, such as sunlight exposure and coastal climates. Poor storage and infrequent use of your vehicle are other things that can accelerate tire age. If you keep your tires in ideal conditions, the tire age can go as high as 10 years from its manufacture date. But ideal conditions are the exception rather than the rule. And the worst part is that you cannot tell the safety of an old tire just by looking at it since there are no conclusive tests for the safety of tires without destroying the tire itself! Due to this, some European car manufacturers of high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans have hedged their bets, stating in their owners manuals that the tire age should reach no higher than 6 years. How Better Rubber Makes Tires That Are Safe There have been a lot of changes in rubber compounds since Charles Goodyear discovered how to cure rubber when he baked a combination of natural rubber and sulfur on his family s kitchen stove. Thus, he would convert an unappreciated raw material into many useful products. Goodyear cross-linked sulfur with polymers that, when exposed to heat, would help make rubber durable and at the same time maintain its elasticity. The main focus of new research has been finding tire age inhibitors. Sulfur molecules are one such tire age inhibitor that is reactivated every time they are exposed to heat, making the rubber harder. Nowadays, rubber in tires has oil in it that tends to migrate into the tires under tread/casing and evaporate into the air. In the process of this, the tire compound releases oil and gets harder. If you can t quite visualize this, go into any tire store and take a big whiff. You ll smell the oil there. Before curing, most tires are coated with a mold release agent that is makes it easier to remove from their mold after curing. If it s a little hard to visualize, think about spraying Pam on a fry pan before pouring on the batter for pancakes. This increases the safety of tires because some of the mold release agent gets cooked onto the surface of the cured tire, which prevents all the oil from evaporating. What Is The Right Tire Age? In most cases, most street tires are good for 6-8 years if maintained properly. Don t forget though that this includes the time the tires spent from the manufacturer s plant to the dealer to you. So, keep this in mind when you are determining tire age. Most tires get to you anywhere between 3-6 months. Some stay longer with the tire manufacturer, but generally all tires that go on your car are less than a year old. So, you should not get an old tire from any tire manufacturer. Which Tires Last Longest? If you want to buy a tire based on how long it will last, you have to consider thread compound. The more aggressive its compound the shorter tire life. Below is a list of tires from longest-lasting to shortest-lasting: Max Performance Ultra High Performance tires DOT-legal competition tires Bottom line: if you want to avoid safe tire issues go with tires that last long and properly maintain them.Bob Martin says Don t buy any new tires until you take a serious look at this today http://www.discount-tires-online.com/TireRatings/tire-rating-guide.htm This article is a copyrighted work and does not come with reprint or resale rights and may not be altered or changed in any way including the resource box. The site owner acknowledges that by using this article they accept this condition. The only exception being to bold the appropriate copy i.e. headlines and subhead text.
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Study Finds Logger Truck Accidents Decline
Study Finds Logger Truck Accidents Decline A recent study conducted by the state of Washington found that the number of truck accidents involving log trucks has declined by 11 percent even as the number of accidents involving all commercial trucks increased by 15 percent over a two-year period. Commercial truck accidents are considered the most expensive and fatal vehicular accidents that can occur throughout the country. The ripple effects of a commercial truck accident can often be vast and devastating to victims, family members and friends. What are Commercial Trucks, Log Trucks? In the United States, commercial trucks, also commonly referred to as heavy trucks, are those vehicles used to transport cargo and weighing more than 26,001 pounds in which case a commercial truck driver’s license is also needed. Commercial trucks transport a number of goods and products across state lines and throughout the country including food supplies and logs and some are specifically designed for tasks such as mixing and moving concrete as well as transporting light trucks for military use. Researchers have reported that while the construction of commercial trucks continues to improve, the level of quality still remains well below the quality level of automobiles and it has been said that commercial trucks remain well below automobiles in quality due mainly to the fact that nearly 3/4 of all commercial trucks are custom built, causing inefficiencies in steamlining a commercial truck assembly line. However, a lengthy list of popular commercial truck manufacturers remains both worldwide and in America. The list of top manufacturers includes: * American LaFrance * Autocar Company USA * Crane Carrier Corporation * Chevrolet * Colet * Dodge * E-One * Freightliner * Ford * GMC * Hino * Isuzu * Kenworth * Mack Trucks * International * Nissan * Oshkosh * Ottawa Truck * Peterbilt * Pierce * Sterling Trucks * UD Nissan Diesel * Volvo Trucks * Western Star Logging trucks and log truck drivers are no different from commercial trucks or commercial truck drivers, however, the Washington study conducted by the Washington State University found that a small group of log truck drivers are often considered seasoned and experienced drivers of the dangerous profession, which may be attributing to the total decrease of log truck accidents. However, the study also noted that as these individuals begin to retire, not only will the logging industry suffer, but accidents may begin to increase instead of decrease. The study noted that, “rising costs, aging drivers and long hours of service” as well as “other factors that could affect safety and economic viability include the ongoing effects of deregulation, poor driver recruitment” could all become factors responsible for a potential increase of log truck accidents. Protecting Yourself from a Truck Accident Individuals who have been involved in a commercial truck accident are advised to seek medical assistance even if no signs or symptoms of an injury are present. Often, injuries sustained in a vehicular or commercial truck accident can remain unseen and may include internal bleeding or bruising, which could have fatal consequences on a victim if injuries are not immediately assessed and treated. In addition to consulting a medical professional and ensuring injuries are properly treated, it may also be advisable to contact an experienced commercial truck collision law firm. Receiving a free legal consultation on injuries derived from a truck accident can provide relief from stress or worry over medical bills or automotive debts associated with a commercial truck collision or a log truck wreck.Peter Kent is the best-selling author of 50 books and hundreds of articles for magazines and newspapers. He manages Legalview.com, a website hosting a variety of information on legal issues, including <a href="http://crash.legaivew.com">Truck Accidents</a>
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