The impact of tire pressure on vehicles

Tire pressure is an important factor in ensuring the safety and economy of car driving. Correct tire pressure can not only improve fuel economy, but also improve tire wear and eccentric wear performance, enhance handling safety, and reduce the risk of tire failure due to insufficient air pressure.

Tire pressure needs to be kept correct and stable, neither too high nor too low, because too high or too low will affect our driving. So we need to know what effect the tire pressure will have on our driving and car performance. And we also need to understand how to judge whether the tire pressure is correct, which can not only help us reduce risks and protect the vehicle. It can also improve our driving experience and safety.

What are the consequences of excessive tire pressure?

Too high tire pressure may have an adverse effect on the performance and safety of the car. There are mainly the following aspects:

1. Reduced comfort: Too high tire pressure will cause the tire of the vehicle to become harder, resulting in a weakened elasticity of the tire, thereby increasing the vibration of the vehicle on uneven roads, which will reduce the comfort of the vehicle.

2. Increased risk of tire blowout: Too high air pressure will cause the tire cord to overstretch and deform, and the middle part of the tread will bulge, increasing the risk of tire blowout. Especially when driving at high speed or under strong impact, high-pressure tires may not be able to buffer the energy of the impact through sufficient deformation, causing the tire to burst.

3. Poor handling: Too high tire pressure may cause the contact area between the tire and the ground to decrease, reduce adhesion, and affect the handling of the vehicle, especially when changing lanes or turning.

4. Increased fuel consumption: Too high tire pressure may cause the friction between the tire and the ground to decrease, and the vehicle's driving resistance to increase, thereby indirectly increasing fuel consumption.

5. Uneven tire wear: Too high air pressure may cause the central part of the tire tread to wear severely, while the two sides wear less, forming uneven wear, affecting the service life of the tire.

What are the consequences of low tire pressure?

Low tire pressure in a car will have some negative effects on the performance and safety of the vehicle, mainly in the following aspects:

1. Increased tire wear: When the tire pressure is low, more of the surface contacts the road, resulting in premature and uneven wear. The extra contact with the road surface will cause severe wear of the inner and outer shoulders of the tire, resulting in tread wear and poor tire traction. Premature and uneven tire wear means more frequent tire maintenance, repairs and replacements.

2. Increased fuel consumption: Too low tire pressure will increase the friction coefficient between the tire and the ground, resulting in increased resistance when the vehicle is driving, thereby increasing fuel consumption.

3. Reduced handling performance: Too low tire pressure will weaken the vehicle's handling ability, making the steering wheel heavier, and the vehicle's handling ability will be weakened when changing lanes or turning. In addition, too low tire pressure will also reduce the vehicle's ability to prevent rain and water skidding, increasing driving risks.

4. Increased braking distance: Too low tire pressure will reduce the contact area between the tire and the ground, resulting in weakened braking effect, increased braking distance, and affecting driving safety.

5. Increased tire temperature: Too low tire pressure will cause the friction between the tire and the ground to increase exponentially, the tire temperature to rise sharply, the tire to become soft, and the strength to drop sharply. When the vehicle is driving at high speed, it may cause a tire blowout.

6. Increased burden on the suspension system: Too low tire pressure will cause the tire to deform more, causing additional burden on the suspension system, affecting the stability and ride comfort of the vehicle.

In summary, too low tire pressure will have a negative impact on many aspects of the vehicle, so car owners should check the tire pressure regularly to ensure that the tire pressure is within the normal range.

What tire pressure do you need?

The appropriate tire pressure depends on many factors, including vehicle type, tire model, load, and driving conditions.

1. Seasonal adjustment: Tire pressure will change with seasonal changes, so it can be slightly adjusted according to the season. In summer, the tire pressure can be appropriately increased by 1-3psi to reduce the risk of tire blowout; in winter, the tire pressure should not be too high because low temperatures will cause the tire pressure to naturally decrease.

2. Load and road conditions: When the load is too high, the tire pressure needs to be appropriately increased to improve stability and safety; when the road surface is uneven, the tire pressure needs to be reduced to improve the vehicle's passability.

3. Spare tire pressure: The spare tire pressure should be higher than 36psi to ensure normal use in an emergency.

4. Tire pressure monitoring: It is recommended to check the tire pressure at least once a month and check it before a long trip. And the tire pressure measurement should be carried out when the tire is cooled.

5. Recommended tire pressure: Different tire models require different air pressures. The following are the recommended air pressures for different tire models.

How to avoid excessive or low tire pressure?

Too high or too low tire pressure will affect driving the vehicle, so how do we usually avoid this situation?

You can use the following methods:

1. Check tire pressure regularly: It is recommended to check tire pressure at least once a week to ensure that it is within the range recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. You can check it from the tire pressure label on the vehicle, which is usually located on the door pillar of the vehicle or on the inside of the fuel tank cap.

2. Use tire pressure monitoring system: Modern vehicles are usually equipped with tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which can monitor tire pressure in real time and issue an alarm when the tire pressure is abnormal, so that the problem of tire pressure can be discovered at the first time.

3. Consider environmental factors: Temperature changes will affect tire pressure. Usually, for every 10 degrees Celsius drop in temperature, the tire pressure will decrease by about 0.07 bar. The tire pressure will also change with different temperatures in each season. Therefore, when the seasons change, the tire pressure should be adjusted to adapt to the temperature changes.

4. Avoid overloading: If the vehicle is overloaded, it will increase the tire burden, resulting in increased tire pressure. Ensuring that the vehicle load does not exceed the weight limit recommended by the manufacturer can well reduce the tire burden and protect the tire.

5. Inflate correctly: Use an accurate tire pressure gauge to inflate and ensure that the recommended pressure is reached. After tire air pump inflation, recheck the tire pressure to ensure accuracy.

6. Pay attention to tire wear: Check tire wear regularly. Uneven wear may indicate a problem with tire pressure or wheel alignment.

7. Regular tire rotation: In order to make the service life of all tires roughly the same, it is recommended to rotate tires regularly.

8. Avoid extreme driving behavior: Fast driving, violent acceleration, sharp turns and heavy braking will increase the burden on the tires and should be avoided as much as possible to protect the tires.

Through the above measures, you can effectively avoid excessive or low tire pressure, ensure the safety and economy of vehicle driving, and improve driving comfort.