Peplinski 1

Tanner Peplinski

Mrs. Crist

English IV

24 October, 2018

Topic Research Paper

In America, most Americans use cars to get around from place to place. However, many

Americans will also experience problems when it comes to driving. Breakdowns are a common

occurrence to many, and it’s often a headache as well. Working towards reducing the amount of

vehicular breakdowns on the road and improving vehicle’s existing parts can help reduce the

amount of accidents on the road as well as make cars more efficient, allowing them to be more

fuel efficient. Vehicles breakdown quite often, and ways to prevent or reduce this is by

decreasing rolling resistance or increasing durability. But, the most important factor to take into

consideration that is often overlooked is tire pressure. These points can help lead to less

incidents along the road.

Tire companies have taken an interest in improving their existing tires to allow for lower

rolling resistance, less carbon dioxide emissions, and strengthened tire durability. According to

Bridgestone, their new tires’ “safety performance in terms of vehicle handling on wet road

surfaces is increased by approximately 10%” (Improving Tire Fuel Efficiency by Reducing

Rolling Resistance). These newly designed tires have a larger tire diameter and a higher internal

pressure, allowing for the tires to not deform so quickly and also increased resistance. If these

tires are approved, people will not only not need to worry about switching out their tires as often,

but also will experience less accidents on the road, either for themselves or others. These new

tires would prove to be useful for those who already own cars and those who plan to get a car.
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Keeping tires in top condition may not even need a completely new tire, but rather just

keeping the tire’s air the proper level it needs to be. Tire pressure is an essential part to a tire.

Too much air puts a lot of pressure on the tire, while too little air can make the tire lag behind

and make it wear more. The article states that “Improper tire inflation pressure impacts the

contact patch of the tire’s tread, causing tread to wear more quickly or irregularly across the tire”

(Birkland, Carol). Tread is what keeps the tire from sliding across the street, but having weared

down treads could mean braking isn’t as efficient, leading to more roadside occurrences or

accidents. Something as easy as checking tire pressure can make an impact.

Tire pressure is arguably one of the most important factors to keep maintained when it

comes to tires. If a tire’s pressure isn’t kept at a proper level, it can lead to catastrophic

consequences. According to the Tires: Avoiding Failures article, “about 90% of tire blowouts

can be traced to under-inflation, and almost half of all emergency service road calls are tire-

related”(Kilcarr, Sean). However, there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Tires that are misaligned are also in danger of blowouts, and tires that are too cold lose tire

pressure much faster than normal and also makes the tires more brittle. Also heat can speed up a

tire’s aging process and make it deteriorate and wear much faster than normal. Though these

seem fairly basic, they’re also the most important to consider about a tire’s condition.

Vehicles breakdown quite often, and ways to prevent or reduce this is by decreasing

rolling resistance or increasing durability. But, the most important factor to take into

consideration that is often overlooked is tire pressure. These points can help lead to less

incidents along the road. Tire companies have taken it upon themselves to make new, more

durable and eco-friendly tires, but to keep our current tires in peak condition, you should make

sure their tire pressure is at the optimal level. However, tire pressure shouldn’t be the only thing
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considered when it comes to tire pressure. The cold and heat, as well as alignment, need to also

be factored in. Tires are the leading cause to most accidents, above the engine and other parts.

Making sure tires are in ship shape condition, and possibly improving upon the current tire

formula may lead to less injuries and breakdowns along the road.

Works Cited
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“Improving Tire Fuel Efficiency by Reducing Rolling Resistance | Reduce CO2 Emissions |

Environment | CSR.” Bridgestone Corporation,

www.bridgestone.com/responsibilities/environment/reduce_co2/fuel_efficiency/index.html.

Birkland, Carol. “It's in the Air: Managing and Maintaining Tires to Increase Service

Life.” Fleet Equipment, vol. 43, no. 12, Dec. 2017, pp. 44–46. Small Business Reference

Center, EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b9h&AN=126703683&site=eds-

live&authtype=uid. Accessed 10 Oct. 2018.

Kilcarr, Sean. “Tires: Avoiding Failures: Simple Steps Can Help Fleets and Their Drivers

Avoid Catastrophic Truck and Trailer Tire Debacles While on the Road.” Fleet Owner,

Aug. 2017, pp. 1–1. Small Business Reference Center, EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b9h&AN=124712801&site=eds-

live&authtype=uid. Accessed 10 Oct. 2018.