Is Driving On Under-Inflated Tyres Riskier?

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 explore the dangers of using underinflated tyres and how monitoring your tyre pressure can keep you safe and your vehicle in top condition.

Why Are Under Inflated Tyres a Big Deal?

Underinflation occurs when your tyre pressure is less than the minimum recommended value. This is checked in pounds per square inch.

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 maneuvers 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.

Some of the Top Dangers of Using Under Inflated 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.

Damaged Tyres Might Cause You to Crash  

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 tire 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.

Tyre Issues Can be Expensive for You

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.

Unresponsive Ride Due to Under Inflated Tyres

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.

Under Inflated Tyres Cost You More Fuel

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 tires from moving forward. With this, your engine needs to burn more fuel, which equates to more spending at the petrol station. As per the U.S. Department of Energy, properly inflating your tyres can boost gas mileage by 3 percent.

Your Brakes Will Be Compromised.

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.

Tyre Issues Lead to Wear and Tear

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 millimeters is mandated for all passenger cars.

Your Vehicle Will Not Be Safe for 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 Under Inflated Tyres

You can’t always tell that a tyre is underinflated just by looking at it. To maintain proper tyre pressure, keep the following in mind.

Proper Care of the Tyres.

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.

Under Inflated and Over Inflated Tyres are Both Harmful.

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. Inflate your tyre at just the right ratio.

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.

Conclusion

The right tyre is an absolute must and you should always inflate your tyres just right. If you are looking for the best tyres, head over to Wangara Tyre & Auto for some of the best tyre prices in Perth.  We have suitable tyres for every taste and budget. We pride ourselves on having some of the most competitive prices online. Because we operate online, we can offer big brands such as iLink, Bridgestone, Toyo Tyres, Kumho, Yokohama, Pirelli, BFGoodrich, Falken, Hankook, Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Dunlop Maxxis and more at highly competitive prices.