7 Reasons Why It’s Bad to Drive on Underinflated Tyres

 

Driving on underinflated tyres is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a motorist. A slight decrease in tyre pressure may seem negligible, but it can lead to safety issues for you, your passengers, and other people on the road. In this article, you'll learn the dangers of using underinflated tyres and how monitoring your tyre pressure can keep you safe and your vehicle in top condition.

Why Are Underinflated Tyres a Big Deal?

Underinflation occurs when your tyre pressure is less than the minimum recommended value. You can find the correct tyre pressure measured in psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopascal) in your owner's manual and tyre placard. A decrease of as little as 6 psi (41 kPa) can trigger tyre damage.

You probably won't notice immediately that your tyres are underinflated if your regular routes don't involve hard cornering and other sudden driving moves. Because if you do these fast manoeuvres and your vehicle doesn't respond, that's a sure sign that you have decreased tyre pressure. This is especially risky when driving in bad weather and challenging road conditions because losing control over your ride can result in an accident.

 

Top 7 Dangers of Using Underinflated Tyres

Tyres are arguably the toughest part of your vehicle, able to pound the road while battling heat, rocks, and other debris. Aside from a sturdy carcass, a tyre's secret weapon is its tyre pressure. Without it, tyres can't function properly and are just rubber pieces. Still not convinced? Here are the possible effects when you drive on underinflated tyres.

 

1. Damaged Tyres

When your tyre is low in pressure, more of its rubber will hit the ground. This increased road impact leads to premature wear and tear, excess heat and eventual tyre damage. Another thing you should be wary of is a blowout. Imagine driving, and your tyre suddenly bursts, making you lose control. Veering to a ditch, careening to the opposite lane, spinning out of control — the terrible possibilities are endless, so you should avoid blowouts at all costs.

 

Also read:  Top 8 Causes of a Flat Tyre

 

2. Costly Repairs

Underinflated tyres potentially damage not just themselves but also your vehicle. With low air pressure, tyres drag against the road, making your engine work harder to push your vehicle. Because tyres also serve as shock absorbers, underinflation will stress your suspension system. Other components, such as the chassis, wheels, and rotors, will also be affected. With this setup, expect costly vehicle repairs to come up around the corner, burning a hole in your wallet.

3. Unresponsive Ride

The best feeling comes when your vehicle responds to all your driving demands. Responsive handling is often a selling point of tyres, which bridges the gap between your inputs and your car's performance. Underinflated tyres affect everything—stopping, accelerating, turning, and steering. An unresponsive ride is not only frustrating but also downright dangerous.

4. Less Fuel Economy

Properly inflated tyres already create road friction, which significantly increases when underinflated. More friction means more rolling resistance, which is made up of the forces that keep your tyres from moving forward. With this, your engine needs to burn more fuel, which equates to more spending at the petrol station. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, properly inflating your tyres can boost gas mileage by 3%.

 

Also read:  8 Ways You Can Save on Gas With the Right Tyres

 

5. Compromised Braking

Is it taking longer for your car to stop after you've stepped on the brakes? Check your tyre pressure right away. Remember that brakes are your ride's most essential safety feature. You can coast to a stop or immediately stop with efficient brakes, which helps prevent major accidents. Without sufficient air pressure, tyres can't properly grip the road, compromising your car's stopping power.

 

 

6. Faster Tyre Wear

So what if you bought expensive tyres because they promised a long tread life? If you don't give them the right inflation, they'll wear out faster and unevenly, making them susceptible to punctures and failure. Other risks of a worn tread—hydroplaning on wet roads, higher chances of blowouts, and possible legal issues because in Australia, a minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimetres is mandated for all passenger cars.

 

7. Unsafe Loading

Air pressure lets your tyres carry the weight of your vehicle and its load. If you subject your underinflated tyres to their usual load, the more they will kiss the ground, affecting fuel efficiency, your safety and vehicle performance. Check out the load rating in your owner's manual or tyre placard. You'll find that it's always mentioned in relation to the recommended tyre pressure—proof that the two are closely connected.

 

How to Avoid Underinflated Tyres

You can't always tell that a tyre is underinflated just by looking at it. To maintain proper tyre pressure, follow our tips:.

 • Regularly check tyre inflation.

If your car doesn't have a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), use a tyre pressure gauge to check its inflation. Do this once a month or before you go on long road trips.

 • Check when the tyres are cold.

To get an accurate reading, wait until your tyres have cooled before you check their pressure. Check in the morning or wait for around two to three hours after you've used your vehicle.

 • Don't overinflate.

Like underinflated tyres, their overinflated version can also speed up wear, making them prone to damage. Overinflation may result in a harsher ride and decreased traction.

 • Care for your spare.

Remember that your spare tyre also needs proper inflation. Tyres naturally lose air over time, even when not in use. Ensuring that your spare has the correct pressure means you can use it whenever needed.

 

 

Inflation Applies to Tyres, Not Our Prices

At Tyroola, we pride ourselves on having the lowest prices online. Because we operate online, we can offer big brands such as Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Dunlop and more at highly competitive prices. We also have a Price Match Guarantee which encourages you to look for a lower price online. If you do and the product matches our conditions, we'll beat it by 3%!

What are you waiting for? Visit Tyroola now and take advantage of our best deals and promos!