Following a string of tire-related accidents that killed 12 and injured 42 in Florida, Louisiana, Arizona and California, the National Transportation Safety Board initiated a special investigation into the factors that contribute to tire failure that cause more than 500 deaths in the U.S. each year.
The final report stated that the way tires are currently registered and recalled is ineffective, while also uncovering that there is insufficient guidance from tire and automotive industries on the risks associated with tire aging. The report and resulting safety alert centered on passenger tires.
“Our investigation revealed that very few tires are actually registered for recall purposes, so manufacturers cannot contact drivers if their tires need to be recalled, which can place the drivers and their passengers at risk of a tire-related crash,” said NTSB Chairman Chris Hart.
The probe reported that for the 3.2 million tires recalled from 2009-2013, the recall completion rate was only 44 percent, which includes tires no longer in service.
Investigators also found that most motorists lacked basic understanding of tire age, as well as inadequate knowledge of the factors that accelerate tire aging, such as climate, road conditions, driving habits, miles driven and exposure to direct sunlight.
All of these issues directly result in weakened tires, even when tread wear isn’t present, and increased likelihood of catastrophic failure.
The results of this special investigation have prompted the NTSB to generate nine recommendations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that improve registration and recall processes, produce thorough educational material related to tire aging and service life and encourage technological improvements that reduce tire-related crashes.
“Today’s recommendations, if acted upon, hold the promise of saving some of the more than 500 lives lost to tire-related crashes every year,” said Hart.
