Are Flat Spots on Tires Dangerous?

Many people will enter their vehicle and depart to their destination without checking or wondering about the state of their tires. While this may be acceptable behavior if you routinely check your tires and vehicle for issues, this is not a wise course of action if you rarely inspect your vehicle. Your tires can have several flat spots which can cause other issues if you do not understand how flat spots develop. If you or a family member were seriously injured in a car accident due to defective tires, you should contact an experienced Montgomery tire defect lawyer today. Accident lawyer Rick Morrison believes in helping car accident victims hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. The Morrison Law Firm is here to explain whether flat spots on tires are dangerous.

How Does Tire Flatspotting Happen?

Flat spots on tires, sometimes referred to as flatspotting, often occur because you allowed your vehicle to remain in the same position for an extended period of time. The portion of your tires that are touching the ground (contact spot) will slowly begin to spread and flatten out for as long as the car is parked.

It is easier for flatspotting to happen in cold weather because the cold street will cause the rubber on a tire to stiffen and form rigid flat spots. Additionally, flat spots are more likely to occur if you have underinflated tires or if you are carrying a large amount of weight in your vehicle. A sign that your tire may have flat spots is if your vehicle shakes or vibrates when you are driving. While your car may only shake for a few minutes after you begin driving, you should not assume that the problem is fixed.

To learn more about how to fix flat spots on tires, you should continue reading and consider speaking with an experienced Alabama tire defect lawyer.

How to Prevent and Fix Flat Spots on Tires

Flat spots on a tire can be corrected in a variety of ways. One way that you can fix a flat spot is by driving your vehicle for a certain amount of time. Specifically, you can fill your tires to the maximum air pressure level and drive it for about 150 miles or more to remove most flat spots. Once you drive the vehicle for at least 150 miles, you can bring the air pressure back down to normal levels. However, this method should be done carefully as overinflated tires are more likely to burst.

There are also methods that you could use to prevent flat spots from developing. One method for preventing flat spots is best used when you plan to place your vehicle in storage or if you do not plan to drive it for a long period of time. You can remove the tires from your car and place your car on jack stands until you are ready to use it again. If placing your vehicle on jack stands is not a viable option, you can also use a wheel cradle that is designed to evenly distribute the weight placed on your tires.

As previously mentioned, another method that can be used to combat flatspotting is ensuring that your tires always meet the suggested air pressure guidelines. Every vehicle has a sticker that provides a suggested range for tire air pressure that is typically located around the doors of a vehicle. It is important to keep your tire pressure within these ranges because tires that are low on air will have issues holding a large amount of weight. Parking your car on a cold surface with underinflated tires and a heavily loaded vehicle is a surefire way to develop flat spots.

Additionally, you should not assume that tires that are more expensive will be less prone to flat spots. One reason that expensive or high-performance tires are more likely to develop flat spots is because they are typically softer than other types of tires. This makes it easier for tires to flatten if they are parked for too long.

If not corrected, flat spots can be the cause of a serious car accident because of the effect they have on a vehicle’s stability.

Alabama Tire Defect Accident Attorney Offering Free Consultations

If you or a family member was injured in a serious car accident, you should consult with an experienced Alabama defective tire accident attorney. The Morrison Law Firm provides legal services to residents of Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Prattville, and other areas across Alabama, and we would be proud to represent you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your case, call personal injury attorney Rick Morrison at (334) 625-6128, or contact us online.