Rain-slicked roads are wreaking havoc on drivers.
When the rain rolls around in San Diego, experts say one thing you can do to help yourself out when driving in hazardous conditions is to take care of your tires.
Over the weekend, the California Highway Patrol reported 164 wrecks, a number that’s on pace to beat their average number of reported crashes during “normal weather” conditions. That number is usually around 100 to 174.
After a series of crashes Saturday and Sunday, including a one-truck crash from the 52 on ramp, mechanics at La Mesa Auto and Tire Center said tires tend to be an issue for people in San Diego.
In the aftermath of that accident, Manager Carlos Quijada one thing quickly came in focus.
“You can see a straight line, so she needed tires,” Quijada said.
That straight line Quijada's talking about is the wear bars - a standard on all car tires.
Local
Try switching out the old penny test for something else. When the little black knobs are taller than the treat, it’s time for new tires.
“If there's not enough tread on it to separate the water from the road you can hydroplane just like that,” said Aquijada.
Driver Terry Ross said he isn’t trying to be a statistic.
When the tire pressure warning light flashed, he immediately pulled over at a gas station to check the problem and air up.
He was motivated by the potentially dangerous weather.
“The rain! The rain of course,” Ross said. “I don’t want tire pressure that’s not level. It wears on your tires and you could have an accident, possibly.”
