With spring’s arrival, and summer approaching, the climate in the Carolinas (with the exclusion of a few tornadoes) has returned to a state of relative normalcy. This past year, the southeast was barraged with unusually wintery conditions. Potholes on Carolina roads were a significant result of last winter, causing an increase in tire repairs and headaches for local motorists.
AAA Car Care reports that wheel and tire issues have significantly increased early in the year.
“We had more than a 100% increase in tire and wheel related issues the first three months of this year,” said Scott Shirley, general manager, of AAA Car Care. “The rough winter was a major contributor.”
Car manufacturers may be responsible for taking short cuts in fuel efficiency by axing the inclusion of spare tires in order to reduce vehicle weights.
“Some of those stranded with flat tires had no spare,” said Shirley. “They only had tire-sealant repair kits and when pothole damage can only be repaired where the rubber meets the road and often sidewalls were damaged, and the kits were inadequate to get the driver back on the road. They needed new tires.”
AAA Car Care warns that tire-sealants only go so far (fifty miles to be exact). After using tire-sealant kits, motorists should consult with tire repair specialists because sidewall or shoulder repairs are not stable enough to guarantee the tire will function properly in the future.
With these recent developments, motorists are urged to keep a close eye on the state of their tires to prevent dangerous roadside accidents. For more updates from AAA Carolina you can subscribe to them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @AAAcarolinas.
Recent Comments