An interview with Amatzia Gazit, MSc, one of Israel’s most qualified traffic safety consultants.

Q: What do you check for when examining vehicles involved in traffic accidents?

A: First, tire pressure or, more accurately, lack of pressure. In close to 80% of accidents, the lack of tire pressure was a serious contributing factor. Remember that all the weight of a vehicle rests on four tires which translate to twenty sq. cms per tire. Every driver relies on the traction of his tires but far too few check pressure on a regular basis. Incorrect pressure will make a major difference to a vehicle having to break or swerve in an emergency.

Q: What is the optimum pressure?

A: This is always specified in new car manuals and on boards in gas stations, and should be strictly adhered to. Tires at the correct pressure are designed to give maximum traction.  In the case of emergency braking, underinflated tires will drastically reduce stopping distances and the driver’s control of the vehicle. If you don’t have contrary recommendations, inflate your tires to 32 psi [pounds per square inch].

Q: Are the air pumps at service stations reliable?

A:  They are tested every month but hand-held tire pressure gauges are readily available on the market.

Q: What is your advice to motorists when buying a new tire?

A: Check it’s vintage. Tires dry out on the shelf and one should not buy a tire that is more than a year old. The actual date of manufacture is recorded on each tire, in this order – week and year.

Q: Are broader tires safer?

A: Generally speaking, for normal conditions, they are not.

Q: When watching motor car races we note that the drivers are often called in for pit stops to change tires.  Why is this?

A: In normal conditions racing drivers use smooth tires without ditches in order to get the most friction with the surface. But when it’s rainy, they change to tires with ditches to be able to evacuate the water on the track.

Q: Do you find that the experienced driving instructors you teach are aware of the importance of tire pressure?

A: Unfortunately, generally speaking they are not.  Recently in giving practical instruction to a selected group of teachers on a range, I had them practicing correct steering and braking through a slam course in two identical vehicles. When I raised the matter of tire pressure they were not impressed.  During a tea break, I had the pressure reduced in one vehicle and thereafter we returned to practical tests. Those in the car with reduced pressure could not understand why, all of a sudden, they could not achieve the control and success they had previously had. When I pointed out what I had done they could not believe the difference pressure made. 

The experts in the above course checked the vehicles before driving them but even an experienced driver cannot easily detect even a difference of 10 psi in a tire. Do not rely on visual inspection – checking your tires can save lives, and they may be yours.