According to a recent study done by Consumer Reports, even if you’re replacing your tires according to the manufacturer’s suggestions, you may still not be replacing them often enough. Based on their comparison of a brand new set of tires and a set of tires that were halfway worn down, there was a fairly significant loss of traction in inclement weather with the worn tires.
According to Consumer Reports, tires are considered to be worn down when grooves on the tire reach 2/32 of an inch deep; they are 10/32 of an inch deep when new. When grooves reach 2/32 of an inch deep, they are at the point where they will fail state safety inspections and people can collect on a tire’s tread warranty.
After testing all season tires that were halfway worn down against new tires, they discovered that there was a 15 percent difference in snow traction between the sets and that hydroplaning started at three to four miles per hour sooner with the half-worn tires. Additionally, wet-weather stops took three to six feet longer on the worn down tires, which led Consumer Reports to conclude that people may want to replace their tires before they reach 2/32 of an inch deep.
If someone has been in a car accident due to worn tires, they are likely to have to deal with a variety of expenses, including repairing their vehicle, obtaining a rental car and, in some cases, getting medical treatment. Insurance companies often attempt to settle for the lowest dollar amount possible, and they may attempt to rush someone into agreeing to amount that is not sufficient to cover their expenses. A lawyer may be able to assist an individual in determining an equitable payout and obtaining it.