What are the risks of under inflated tyres?


While it may seem safe to drive with your tyres underinflated, it can cause serious injuries and even death.

Early detection of under-inflated tires could improve safety when you get back on your road. Read on to learn how to fix it.

Continue reading to learn about the dangers of under-inflated tires and how to keep your car’s rubber in top condition.

How under-inflated tyres affect your vehicle

Under-inflated tires can cause serious damage to your vehicle’s systems. To avoid problems like these, you should inspect your tyre pressures once per month.

Learn more about each issue here:

Uneven tyre wear

Sidewalls can bulge out and become misshaped due to insufficient internal pressure. Because the sidewalls are bulging, the edges and treads of tyres become more worn than usual as they come in contact with ground more frequently. This can lead to premature wear, but it can also cause tyre bursts if the rubber is not thick enough to hold the pressure.

If there are any distortions in your tyre, and you live near a tyre fitter who can help you, you should drive slowly and at a slow speed to get it replaced. If there is a bulge in your tyre, you should not drive your car. You can also change your spare wheel or call your local breakdown service provider.

Poor fuel economy

Underinflated tyres can cause increased fuel consumption and more contact with the roads. A tyre that is below its recommended inflation pressure will cause a higher ‘rolling resistance’ which means your engine has to work harder to maintain the same speed. This can lead you to using more fuel. Fuel consumption can rise by as much as 5% if the pressure drops to 7 psi.

Unresponsive steering

Your steering will feel more sluggish because tyre rubber is more flexible when it’s unpressurised (or less-pressurized). Because it takes a greater side-to-side turn in order to turn the tire itself, this is because it requires more effort. It will be harder to control your car when you don’t maintain the right pressure. Your car will appear to bounce around corners instead of holding onto the road.

Under-inflated tyres can not only affect your steering but also make your car less safe to drive. This will affect your ability to brake, corner smoothly and make evasive maneuvers.

Shorter lifespan

According to estimates, a decrease in tyre pressure could result in a reduction of tread life of 25%-30%. Although tyres can be expensive, they are essential for road safety. It makes sense to take care of them.

TyreSafe is a UK charity that aims to raise awareness about the importance of proper tyre maintenance as well as the dangers of illegal and defective tyres. They recommend checking your tires at least once per month, and before you take long trips. TyreSafe uses the acronym A.C.T. A.C.T. stands for Air Pressure, Condition, and Tread. These are the basic safety checks that every driver must perform when inspecting tyres.

Five other causes of under inflated tyres

  1. A cut or embedded sharp object, such as a screw or nail.
  2. According to KwikFi, tyres lose air naturally at a rate up to 2 psi per month.
  3. Poorly sealed valves or corrosion can cause problems with your alloy wheels. The tyre may not be able to properly seal around it.
  4. Potholes are causing more damage to tires.
  5. Temperature drops in colder months can also have an effect on tire pressures.

What to do about under-inflated tyres?

There are two options: either you can use a paid compressor at a petrol station (usually between 50p to PS1 to use) OR you can use a 12v compressor at your home. Regularly checking your tyre pressures is a good idea. A 12v compressor will usually give you the current pressure reading by simply putting it on your tyre’s valve stem. It’s recommended that you check your tyre pressure at least once per month.

Know your tyre size

No matter if they have become worn or punctured, you will need to replace them. Depending on what type of car you have, there are many sizes for tyres.

The vehicle manual won’t always have the right size tyre, as there are many sizes that will fit each vehicle. You can determine the right size tyre by looking at the sidewall of your current tyre. Although the sidewall may include many numbers, letters and codes, the one you want will be in large print.

The tyre size in this case is 225/45R17Y. The format of the number and letter may change but the format remains the same. 195/70R14T or 245/45R19Y. Each letter and number represents a different aspect and size of the tyre’s properties, including its aspect ratio, rim size, and speed rating.

The markings on your tyre needing to be replaced should be inspected when you are looking at the tyre’s sidewall. The size of the rear and front tyres can differ on different vehicle makes and models. This is to improve stability and handling. However, the size of the tyres should be the same on both the front and rear axles.


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