Arizona drivers at risk for tire blowouts in hot weather

PHOENIX - Tens of thousands of tires exploded on Arizona roads last summer, and even more are expected over the next couple months.

The hot weather is causing tires to fail and burst over every stretch of Arizona pavement.

These blowouts are more than just dangerous, they are deadly. On June 19, a Phoenix church youth group drove off for a fun weekend up north. Sadly they never made it.

"The tire in the back blew up,” explained the group’s pastor, Zeke Rodriguez of My Friend’s House Worship Center. “The truck started swerving, and then started flipping over."

Two men ages 19 and 20 were killed and six others were taken to the hospital with serious injuries; all over a blown tire according to the Department of Public Safety.

AAA Peoria shop manager John Walter sees thousands of cars with tires blown out towed into his shop every month.

"Between Memorial Day and Labor Day last year we ran about 130,000 emergency roadside calls, and about 19,000 of those were tire-related and we anticipate an even higher number this year," Walter said.

Mechanics say Arizona's extreme heat puts a beating on tires. It wears out the tread and weakens the structure.

"The hotter the temperature the more the air expands and builds the pressure inside the tire," Walter said.

The heat factor makes tires more likely to burst according to Walter. He suggests that frequently checking tire pressure and tread are vital to drivers and their passengers' safety.

If one of your tires explodes while you are driving, AAA advises not to slam on the brakes, rather accelerate to stabilize the vehicle, then let off the gas and slowly pull over to the side of the road. The most serious accidents happen when drivers panic.