Bruno Independent Living Aids
ASL-700 OPERATOR 02-03-2022
13
DOT HS 809 361
Oct
ober 2001
The following information is a reproduction of document DOT HS 809 361 October 2001 from the U.S.
Department of Transporation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For a copy of their brochure,
please visit
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
.
TIRE SAFETY
Everything Rides On It
Studies of tire safety show that maintaining proper tire pressure, observing tire and vehicle load limits
(not carrying more weight in your vehicle than your tires or vehicle can safely handle), avoiding road haz-
ards, and inspecting tires for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most important things you can
do to avoid tire failure, such as tread separation or blowout and flat tires. These actions, along with other
care and maintenance activities, can also:
• Improve vehicle handling
• Help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns and accidents
• Improve fuel economy
• Increase the life of your tires.
This booklet presents a comprehensive overview of tire safety, including information on the following topics:
• Basic tire maintenance
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
• Fundamental characteristics of tires
•Tire safety tips.
Use this information to make tire safety a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine. Recognize that
the time you spend is minimal compared with the inconvenience and safety consequences of a flat tire or
other tire failure.
Safety First–Basic Tire Maintenance
Properly maintained tires improve the steering, stopping, traction, and load-carrying capability of your
vehicle. Underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles are a major cause of tire failure. Therefore, as men
-
tioned above, to avoid flat tires and other types of tire failure, you should maintain proper tire pressure,
observe tire and vehicle load limits, avoid road hazards, and regularly inspect your tires.
Finding Your Vehicle’s Recommended Tire Pressure and Load Limits
Tire information placards and vehicle certification labels contain information on tires and load limits. These
labels indicate the vehicle manufacturer’s information including:
• Recommended tire size
• Recommended tire inflation pressure
• Vehicle capacity weight (VCW–the maximum occupant and cargo weight a vehicle is designed to carry)
• Front and rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWR– the maximum weight the axle systems are designed to carry).
Both placards and certification labels are permanently attached to the vehicle door edge, door post, glove-
box door, or inside of the trunk lid. You can also find the recommended tire pressure and load limit for
your vehicle in the vehicle owner’s manual.
Understanding Tire Pressure and Load Limits
Tire inflation pressure is the level of air in the tire that provides it with load-carrying capacity and affects
the overall performance of the vehicle. The tire inflation pressure is a number that indicates the amount
of air pressure– measured in pounds per square inch (psi)–a tire requires to be properly inflated. (You will
also find this number on the vehicle information placard expressed in kilopascals (kPa), which is the metric
measure used internationally.)
Manufacturers of passenger vehicles and light trucks determine this number based on the vehicle’s design
load limit, that is, the greatest amount of weight a vehicle can safely carry and the vehicle’s tire size.The
proper tire pressure for your vehicle is referred to as the “recommended cold inflation pressure.” (As you
will read below, it is difficult to obtain the recommended tire pressure if your tires are not cold.)
Because tires are designed to be used on more than one type of vehicle, tire manufacturers list the “max-
imum permissible inflation pressure” on the tire sidewall. This number is the greatest amount of air pres
-
sure that should ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions.
Checking Tire Pressure
It is important to check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month for the following reasons:
• Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
• Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or other object or if you strike the curb when parking.
• With radial tires, it is usually not possible to determine underinflation by visual inspection.
For convenience, purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at tire
dealerships, auto supply stores, and other retail outlets.
NHTSA TIRE INFORMATION
