How to Prevent and Respond to Truck Tire Blowouts?

What to Do after a Flat Tire?

In various truck tire blowout accidents, drivers often mishandle them because they are too nervous. In the event of a tire blowout, I don’t know how to properly operate to avoid danger, and subconsciously take some incorrect remedial measures. For example, turning the steering wheel sharply, braking in an emergency, etc., these may cause the vehicle to lose control and roll over.

If it is a drive axle or trailer tire blowout. The first thing to do is to hold the steering wheel firmly, control the direction of the vehicle, and avoid other collisions. Tap the brakes to pull over and place a warning triangle behind the vehicle.

After an accident on the expressway, you must remember this mantra: “Cars pull over, people evacuate, and call the police.” Because the speed of driving on the expressway is very fast, a little carelessness will cause secondary accidents.

When a tire blows out, the most important thing is to hold on to the steering wheel! Many drivers will lose their hands from the steering wheel due to the vibration of the blown tire, and the direction is out of control. This also tells us that we must hold the steering wheel firmly and be vigilant at all times when driving daily. Safety is not a temporary act, and it cannot be relaxed for a moment.

Why Do Flat Tires Happen? How to Prevent It?

Here are some common causes of tire explosions in daily life:

1. the Tire Quality Is Not Good Enough

In order to save costs, many car owners will choose to buy some low-quality tires or retreaded tires. Or continue to use tires that have been repaired many times with cracks, etc. And these tires are prone to punctures when used for a long time.

Solution: When purchasing tires, choose tires of big brands through formal channels, and the quality is guaranteed. In addition, when there are problems such as cracks in the tires, go to a reliable repair station in time to deal with them, and do not repair them at will. If the tire has been repaired many times and the steel wire layer is damaged, it is best to replace it in time, and do not continue to use it with a fluke mentality.

2. Excessive Tire Wear or Foreign Objects

In daily loading, the loads of different axles are different, resulting in different friction between the tires and the ground. Plus some erroneous operations during daily driving. For example, slamming on the brakes, accelerating quickly, etc., may cause excessive wear of a certain tire. Or during driving, some foreign matter stuck in the tire pattern, such as nails, stones and other sharp objects, will also increase the risk of tire blowout.

Solution: Regularly check the condition of the tires, if there are cracks or bulges, replace the tires in time. Especially if there is a bulge on the side of the tire, it means that the cord inside the part has been broken, and the tire may burst at any time.

In addition, it is necessary to do a good job in four-wheel alignment, and replace the tire position according to the different wear conditions of the tires. If a tire is found to be excessively worn, it must be replaced. You can refer to the tire wear mark. If the tire tread is worn to the same level as the mark, it means that the tire needs to be replaced.

Try to make a circle around the car before leaving the car every time. Check whether there are foreign objects on the tire, whether there are cracks, etc., and eliminate hidden dangers in time. During driving, try to avoid incorrect operations such as sudden braking, and learn to drive predictively. When encountering some bumps or big pits, try to slow down and pass through to reduce damage to the tires.

3. the Tire Pressure Is Too High or Too Low

Excessive tire pressure can cause tires to be too hard. The elasticity and shock absorption performance of the tire will be reduced, the contact area with the ground will be reduced, and the coefficient of friction will be reduced. Low tire pressure can lead to soft tires. When the tire is under-inflated, it will deform more than under normal air pressure. Too low tire pressure will cause greater deformation of the tire shoulder/sidewall, resulting in fatigue of the internal structure and an increase in local temperature. If it exceeds the critical point, it will easily cause a tire blowout.

Solution: Regularly check tire pressure during daily operation. Carry out at normal temperature when measuring tire pressure to avoid inaccurate measurement results. Maintain the standard tire pressure in the tires as specified in the vehicle manual. Remember not to ignore the tire pressure of the spare tire, in case of accidents, the spare tire needs to be replaced.

Choose These Configurations to Prevent and Reduce Risks

With the development of commercial vehicle technology, the safety configuration of tires has been further strengthened in recent years. The following three configurations can be selected to effectively reduce the risk of tire blowout. Many mid-to-high-end models can be factory-installed. When buying a car, you can consult the dealer in detail to escort your safety.

1. Tire Pressure Monitoring System

As mentioned above, there is a risk of tire blowout if the tire pressure is too high or too low. The tire pressure monitoring system can monitor the tire pressure and temperature at any time. Provide early warning for special conditions such as excessive tire pressure, low tire pressure, air leakage, and high temperature. It can help the driver to detect the danger signal in time, and deal with it in time, so as to kill the risk of tire blowout in the cradle. In addition to the factory standard configuration, truck drivers can also carry out post-installation.

2. Emergency Device for Tire Blowout

If the tire pressure monitoring system is an active protection device, the tire blowout emergency device is a passive protection device. Be a strong line of defense for truck drivers in the event of a tire blowout.

The tire blowout emergency device is called the tire anti-slip device. When the tire blows out or loses pressure, it can make the tire have a certain degree of support and prevent the tire from being involved in the bottom of the groove or detaching from the steel ring. It can also prevent the rim from slipping directly in contact with the ground, so that the driver can better control the direction. Ensure the normal driving direction of the truck, and avoid problems such as rollover and collision caused by deviation from the direction.

3. Central Inflation and Deflation System

The tire pressure monitoring system can monitor the condition of the tires of the whole vehicle at any time, but after a problem is detected, the driver needs to manually adjust the tire pressure. The central inflation and deflation system can combine the two tasks of monitoring tire pressure and adjusting tire pressure. Automatically adjust the tire pressure according to the driving conditions of the vehicle, ambient temperature, etc., so that the tires are always in good working condition. Helps reduce the risk of tire blowouts, prolongs tire life and reduces fuel consumption.

Summarize

Tires are the main components of vehicles and play a vital role in the driving process of vehicles. A flat tire is one of the most devastating truck accidents. During daily operation, drivers should check carefully, drive predictively, pay attention to the condition of tires, and improve safety. I hope everyone can make money safely.