August in Georgia means long, hot drives on I-75, I-85, and I-285, and heat is hard on tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that sustained high temperatures, such as driving long distances in hot weather, can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation. A blowout at highway speed can send a car across lanes, roll an overloaded SUV, or leave a shredded truck tire in the road for the drivers behind it.
If a tire failure caused your crash, the other driver’s insurer may call it an unavoidable accident. Often it isn’t. Many tire failures trace back to poor maintenance, overloading, skipped inspections, or a defective tire, and those can be the basis of a claim. The key is investigating quickly, because the most important evidence, the tire itself, can disappear within days.
Key Takeaways
- NHTSA warns that sustained heat can cause tires to deteriorate and fail, and underinflation makes it worse.
- A blowout is not automatically “just an accident.” Bald tires, underinflation, overloading, and skipped inspections can all be negligence.
- Commercial trucks must meet federal tread-depth and inspection rules, and violations can help prove a claim against the carrier.
- Keep the failed tire and the vehicle. Experts can read the cause of the failure from the tire itself.
- Georgia’s two-year deadline applies (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), but key evidence may only last days.
Why Summer Heat Is Hard on Tires
Heat, load, and air pressure work together. According to NHTSA’s tire safety guidance, sustained high temperatures can cause a tire to deteriorate, and underinflated tires add to the danger. Summer road trips often mean packed cargo areas, roof boxes, and trailers, which can push tires toward or past their rated loads.
Age matters too. NHTSA notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are six to 10 years old, regardless of tread wear. A tire can look fine and still be old enough to be a risk.
A Blowout Is Not Automatically “Just an Accident”
Drivers and vehicle owners have a duty to keep their vehicles in reasonably safe condition. When a tire fails because of bald tread, chronic underinflation, ignored warning lights, overloading, or skipped inspections, that can be negligence, not bad luck.
Georgia uses modified comparative fault (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), so the other side may also argue that you share some blame, for example by claiming you reacted poorly to the debris or the swerving vehicle. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if you are found 50% or more at fault. Good evidence is the answer.
Who May Be Responsible for a Tire Failure
Commercial Trucks
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which Georgia has adopted, require drivers to be satisfied that their vehicle is in safe operating condition before driving, and require carriers to systematically inspect and maintain their vehicles. Under 49 C.F.R. § 393.75, the front tires of trucks and truck tractors must have at least 4/32 of an inch of tread depth, and other tires at least 2/32. Buses may not run retreaded or recapped tires on their front wheels. Inspection reports, maintenance files, and tire purchase records can show whether a carrier followed these rules. Learn more on our truck accident page.
Passenger Vehicles
A driver who kept driving on visibly bald, damaged, or badly underinflated tires may be negligent for the failure itself and for the crash that followed.
Defective Tires and Repair Shops
Tread separation is a known tire failure mode. If a tire failed catastrophically without an obvious maintenance cause, there may be a product liability claim against the manufacturer, or a claim against a shop that sold, patched, or mounted the tire improperly. These cases usually require expert analysis of the tire.
Keep the Tire: the Evidence That Decides These Cases
The most common and costly mistake in tire-failure cases is letting the vehicle, and the failed tire, go to salvage. The tire carcass is the proof. Experts can examine it for tread separation, aging, impact damage, underinflation damage, and past repairs.
Georgia courts have held that a party’s duty to preserve evidence can begin once litigation is reasonably foreseeable. A prompt written preservation request to the tow yard, the other driver, the carrier, and any shop puts them on notice. Don’t authorize the salvage or disposal of your vehicle until the tire has been secured.
If You Crashed After Your Own Blowout or Road Debris
Even a single-vehicle blowout crash may have a path to compensation, such as a defective tire claim or a claim against a shop that recently inspected or serviced the tire. If a truck tire or other debris in the road caused you to crash, a claim may exist against the carrier whose vehicle left it there.
When the vehicle that left the debris can’t be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage may help. Georgia’s rules for unknown drivers generally require physical contact or corroboration by an eyewitness other than you, and the crash must be reported to police, so witness names and dashcam footage are critical.
August Tire Safety and Evidence Checklist
- Check tire pressure at least monthly when tires are cold, and set it to the vehicle’s door-jamb label, not the maximum printed on the sidewall.
- Check the DOT date code. The last four digits show the week and year the tire was made.
- Don’t overload your vehicle or trailer beyond its rated capacity.
- After any blowout crash, photograph the tire, its markings, the tread, and the scene, and don’t authorize vehicle disposal.
- Get the police report, get medical care the same day, and avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Our guide to Georgia crash report codes can help you read the report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Liable When Another Driver’s Tire Blows Out?
It depends on why the tire failed. If the driver or company ignored bald tread, underinflation, overloading, or required inspections, they may be liable. If the tire was defective, the manufacturer or a shop may share responsibility. An investigation of the tire and maintenance records usually answers the question.
Can I Bring a Claim Against a Tire Manufacturer After a Blowout Crash?
Possibly. If the tire failed because of a manufacturing or design defect, a product liability claim may be available. These claims depend heavily on expert examination of the tire, which is why preserving it is so important.
What Should I Do with the Tire After a Blowout Crash?
Keep it, or make sure it is preserved where the vehicle is stored. Photograph it, don’t try to repair or discard it, and tell your insurer and the tow yard not to dispose of the vehicle. A lawyer can send preservation letters to everyone who may have relevant evidence.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Tire-Failure Crash in Georgia?
Most Georgia personal injury claims must be filed within two years under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, and claims against government entities have shorter notice deadlines. See our guide to Georgia personal injury deadlines for details.
If a tire failure caused your crash, The Gunn Law Group can help you find out why and who may be responsible. Your consultation is free with no obligation, and there is no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Call 888-BIG-GUNN (888-244-4866).
