Tire Wear Stats and Facts

FACTS

Worn tires cause serious problems with control, braking and drivability.

• Heat Build-Up: As the tire wears down, there is less space for air to flow between the grooves of the tread to cool the tires. The tire heats up. Heat is an enemy of tire rubber and a major cause of failure.
• Puncture: A thick tire tread protects the tire casing from puncture. If the tread is worn, it’s easier for a piece of glass or metal to puncture the tire.
• Hydroplaning: Deep treads “bite” into water to keep you on the road. Worn tire tread can cause the tires to skate across a wet surface instead, which is called “hydroplaning”.
• Air leakage: Tires with worn tread are much more likely to leak air and lose air pressure. This can affect steering, braking and fuel economy.
• Worn tires are truly dangerous. Check tires often and replace them when needed.
• Tire damage: Prior to a crash, there could be tire flaws or damage, such as partial or complete tread separation.
• Road conditions: Conditions like wet roads, slick surfaces, and washed-out roads are dangerous on their own. Combined with underinflated tires or tires with poor tread depth, dangerous road conditions can be significantly more hazardous.
• Overloading: Overloading tires damages them and negatively impact vehicle handling.
• Manufacturer defects: Manufacturers regularly issue recalls over tire defects. In 2021, there were more than 100 tire recalls.

STATS

• Tire-related crashes were responsible for more than 600 motor vehicle traffic fatalities in 2019.
• A report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that each year, there are roughly 33,000 tire-related passenger vehicle crashes. These crashes result in around 19,000 injuries.
• 1 out of every 270 crashes in the U.S. was caused by tire failure over a recent 15-year period reports
• An average 33,000 accidents happen annually because of tires, according to the NTSB. At least 2,000 of those are blowout related.
• Nearly half (45%) of SUVs with pre-crash tire issues rolled over. By contrast, cars, pickup trucks, and vans with pre-crash tire issues rolled over less than 25% of the time.
• If your tire is more than 25% under the recommended standard (usually 30 to 40 psi), you’re at risk for a sidewall blowout. In one study, 34% of men and 50% of women said they rarely check their tire pressure.
• Tire-related crashes are a particular risk for teenagers. Of the 2.2 million U.S. accidents each year, nearly 300,000 involve teen drivers and are related to tire issues such as worn treads and improper tire inflation.
• Less than half (42%) of drivers regularly checked their tire pressure, and only 58% could correctly identify the TPMS warning symbol, even though three-quarters (75%) of all roadside flats were preceded by a slow leak or underinflation.