When we need to get from point A to point B, most of us opt to travel by car. According to Statista’s Global Consumer Survey, 76% of American commuters use their own car to commute from home and work, making it by far the most popular mode of transportation. But what is a car without tires?

Despite being an integral part of a car, tires are the subject of many myths and misconceptions, especially when it comes to auto coverage. In order to give you peace of mind for the next time you drive over a stray nail in the road, we decided to dispel some of these myths. Here are the top five myths about tires and truths that our agents share with customers most often.

MYTH 1: If someone vandalizes your car and only slashes three tires, insurance will not cover it – they will only replace a full set.

FACT: This myth about tires is very common but also very false. The number of tires affected by vandalism does not affect your coverage. Rockingham Insurance will pay for the affected tire(s) subject to betterment (i.e., depending on how much tread depth is measured, we will pay a percentage of the cost of the tire).

MYTH 2: If your tire goes flat or falls apart from use over time, your insurance can just replace it for you.

FACT: This is not true. Rockingham Insurance will cover the cost of replacing your tire(s) if something unexpected happens, such as an accident, but if your tires have reached the end of their life cycle through wear and tear, it is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to replace them.

MYTH 3: If you replace one tire, you have to replace all of them.

FACT: While all tires work together to move your vehicle forward, they may not all be in the same shape. If only one of your tires goes flat during an accident, Rockingham Insurance will cover the cost to replace that tire but will not cover the cost for the other unscathed tires that do not need replacing. And as we mentioned before, if a tire must be replaced due to wear and tear, it is not included in our auto coverage. 

MYTH 4: If you have a blowout while driving, you should pull over immediately.

FACT: While it is important to get out of the way of traffic if your tire suddenly starts deflating, you need to take careful steps to avoid losing control of your vehicle and potentially causing more damage. If you experience a blow-out on the road, follow these steps from Defensivedriving.com:

• First, remain calm. 
• Don’t step on the brake. This will cause your wheels to lock up and will lead to a total loss of control.
• Accelerate slightly and steer as straight as possible.
• Begin to slow down by gently removing your foot from the accelerator.
• Turn on your emergency lights, steer towards the right-hand lane, and pull over when it is safe.
• Change the tire if you know how to do so and have room to do so safely. 
  • If you do not have a spare tire on hand, or you are not confident in your ability to change the tire, if you have Roadside Assistance coverage, reach out to Rockingham Insurance’s Roadside Assistance team.

MYTH 5: The worst thing you can do to a tire is over-inflate it- it will pop!

FACT:  While the ideal situation is to keep your tire at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, it is actually better for it to be overinflated than underinflated. Underinflated tires put a larger rubber contact patch on the road, create more friction, and therefore, run hotter- which can cause the tire’s belts to separate and come apart.

These myths about tires are intended to help keep you safely rolling along. At Rockingham Insurance, we want to keep your travels safe. For coverage that keeps your vehicle ready to roll at all times, reach out to a local Rockingham Insurance agent today.