2 Reasons Why You Should Never Drive On Underinflated Tires
While getting into your car, you may have noticed that one or more of your tires appear the slightest bit flat. However, since they still have a good amount of air in them, you believe that you can continue to drive on them and simply inflate them when you get the chance. However, if your tires are underinflated, there are a couple of reasons why you should not continue driving on them.
1. Decreases Your Ability to Control Your Car
When your car's tires have the correct pounds per square inch (psi) of air inside of them, they are at the proper level to allow you to handle your particular vehicle's model smoothly. The psi was determined by the manufacturer to be the ideal pressure to support and handle your particular model's the wheelbase and steering mechanisms.
However, if the tires are underinflated, they can affect the way your car handles because it throws off the balance. This off-kilter balance is most noticeable when you go around sharp turns or even hit a bump in the road.
Also, as you are going around a sharp turn, your tires take on the brunt of the increases pressure and impact. When they do not have the proper psi, the tires may drag to one side or the other, potentially causing you to momentarily lose control.
2. Increases the Chance of a Blowout
Another problem with driving on underinflated tires is that you are at an increased risk of having one of them blow out. Because the decreased air causes the tires to drag, the friction between the road and rubber becomes uneven. This uneven friction then causes uneven wear on the tread, thinning portions faster than the others.
As you continue to drive on the tires, these areas are continuously subjected to this increased friction. Then, when the physical force on the tires created while going around a turn or hitting a bump causes a sudden impact on the tires, the weakened area may burst.
In the worst case scenario, you could be involved in an accident because you lose complete control of your car. Even if you are able to avoid an accident, you are faced with changing and replacing the tire.
When you drive on underinflated tires, you are only wearing them out faster and putting yourself in harm's way. If your tires have become worn from being underinflated, or if you are unsure as to how much psi the tires should have inside of them, contact a tire shop today.
For more information, you will want to check out a company such as Sam's Tire Service Inc.
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