Wheel-offs can be prevented, says Michelin

Michelin Americas Truck Tires (MATT) is using National Tire Safety Week to remind fleet operators and truckers to follow a tire inspection routine that will prevent dangerous wheel-offs.

"When wheel-off events occur, they can result in damage to property or people, and the main culprit of these events is a lack of basic, routine maintenance," says Doug Jones, customer engineering support manager for MATT.

Michelin has produced a video outlining the steps necessary to ensure wheel-off prevention. The video shows a controlled test with a standard low-profile truck tire striking a stationary vehicle at 55 miles per hour. The damage to the vehicle "is significant," according to MATT officials.

"After colliding with the vehicle, the tire finally comes to a rest almost 100 feet in the opposite direction."

The video is available on MATT's YouTube channel. National Tire Safety Week runs through June 13.