Citation

Thiriez, Ferguson E, Subramanian. Traffic Safety Facts Res. Note 2005; 2005: 1-6.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Crashes involving 12-and 15-passenger vans have raised concern about the safety of these vehicles.

One factor known to increase the risk of vehicle rollover is a tire inflation pressure substantially above or below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended level. (Manufacturers place a placard or sticker on the driver's door jam or on the glove compartment door with this information.) This report summarizes three studies of tire inflation pressure.

Fifty-six percent of all vans had at least one tire underinflated by 25% or more. That is more than double the prevalence of underinflation among tires of passenger cars. This study also compared the percentage of vans that had all four tires significantly underinflated to light trucks and passenger cars. Six precent of vans (a rate double that of passenger cars) had all four tires underinflated by 25% or more.

Because it was learned from all three of our tire studies that people use the (maximum) pressure indicated on the tire sidewall as a guide when checking their tire pressure, the study also analyzed overinflation. It was found that 22% of vans had at least one tire overinflated by at least 25% of the manufacturer's recommended pressure. This can be explained by the large difference between the manufacturer-placed placard recommended front pressure (typically 45 or 55 psi) and the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall (80 psi). Not only were vehicles overinflated when compared to recommended pressure, but many were inflated past the maximum pressure recommended on the tire sidewall. Seven percent of the vans had at least one tire inflated past the maximum pressure on the tire sidewall.

Six percent of the vans had both significant underinflation and significant overinflation in the same vehicle.

Poor tire maintenance in combination with the conditions under which these vehicles are driven (i.e. transporting groups of children, inexperienced drivers, etc.) suggest a need for better van tire safety awareness. Research into potential countermeasures to improve van safety might include improving driver training, equipping vehicles with a tire gauge, requiring passengers to wear safety belts, and removing the last row of seats.

Other possible countermeasures to poor tire pressure might include the integration of tire pressure monitoring systems into 12- and 15-passenger vans. Regardless of the presence of TPMS, public awareness of proper tire maintenance is key to the improvement of tire condition. Each tire, including the spare, should be checked monthly when cold and set to the recommended inflation pressure as specified on the vehicle placard and in the ownerâ??s manual.

DOT HS 809 846 -  http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809846.pdf