NCJ Number
137424
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1992) Pages: 17-19
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
When tire failure is suspected to be a factor in a traffic accident, the investigating officer must be able to conduct a thorough and accurate examination of the tire.
Abstract
To correctly document tire failure, the investigator must identify the specific defect and its origin, establish the reason for the defect, describe the events leading to the failure, and establish the proximate cause and injuries to the accident victims. There are three types of contact damage to tires: road surface, other parts of the vehicle, and external objects. There are four major types of tire abnormality -- small hole, cut or slit, burst, or blowout -- which have different shapes and locations that must be described accurately. All tires have the same essential construction consisting of tread, shoulder, sidewall, and bead that can all affect tire performance. Drag factors and hydroplaning are two other aspects of potential tire failure that investigators must understand.