MCALLEN – DPS said a tire blowout was deemed as a factor in a fatal head-on collision.

A 22-year-old Brownsville resident died after crashing head-on with a recycling truck on Highway 48. CHANNEL 5 NEWS discovered the tire that blew out was manufactured 13 years ago. 

Sergio Chavez said he’s in the construction business. He told CHANNEL 5 NEWS his work takes him all over the Rio Grande Valley from McAllen to Brownsville.

Chavez said his truck is a vital tool for his work. He constantly checks his vehicle to make sure everything is up to code.

"It's regularly, like almost on a daily basis… I can't afford to have a flat tire or to have an accident with a bad tire cause I’m actually a lot on the road," he said.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS also spoke to McAllen tire shop owner Salvador Perez who said maintaining the condition of your tires is key to staying safe on the road.

Perez said before making any road tips, every Valley driver should bring their vehicle in for an inspection.

"I recommend that you get your suspension and tires inspected. There are specific points of your car that you have to get inspected before your trip, especially the tire pressure, the suspension, breaks," he explained.

Perez said he bought his tire shop three months ago. He's been going through their inventory of new and used tires.

He told CHANNEL 5 NEWS he's already had to dispose of 200 used tires because they were unfit for the road. He explained even if a tire isn't being used it can develop problems.

“For example, the tires on a Jeep, the spare, it's never been used and the sun can damage it. As a matter of fact, I think it gets more damaged than the ones being used, because they get old. Even if they are put away they get old. It could be that they don't work well,” he said.

Perez recommended drivers change their tires every 30,000 miles or three years. In his opinion, no one should be driving on a tire older than five years.

Though a tire can blow out at any moment, Perez said making sure you are driving on four up to code tires is key to the safety of all drivers. He also said that tire rotation is an important part in extending the life of your tires.