Most vehicles have an ideal tire pressure where the tire is able to achieve the perfect balance of softness and hardness. Tires that are too soft will have an enlarged contact patch, which will cause the tire to have more rolling resistance, hurting your vehicle’s fuel economy and decreasing the tire’s lifespan. Tires that are too hard also aren’t recommended because of a number of reasons which we’ll discuss in this article.
A tire is overinflated when there’s too much air inside. This leads to excessive pressure on the tire walls, which causes the tire to become too stiff. Tires need to be soft enough so they can flex and deform when they hit potholes, curbs, or debris. This deformation smooths the vehicle’s ride and widens the tire’s contact patch, which is the portion of the tire that’s in contact with the road. If the tire’s too hard, the increased stress on the tire’s side walls can cause it to be more susceptible to damage and punctures when running over objects or uneven surfaces. Overinflating your tire can reduce its lifespan.
Tires also play a role in softening bumps. Hard tires won’t be able to absorb impact from the road’s bumps and imperfections, transferring the shocks directly to your vehicle’s suspension. As a result, you’ll experience harsher bumps and more road noise inside the cabin.
Overinflated tires will also have a smaller contact patch, which can reduce your vehicle’s traction, especially when traveling on bumpy road surfaces at high speed.
Overinflated tires can also alter the tire’s shape, making the center treads bulge more than the edges and leading to increased wear on this area. Overinflated tires are also more prone to blowouts, which is when the tire instantly loses pressure, often creating a loud bang. Blowouts tend to happen at highway speeds when the tire’s experiencing the most stress.
Making sure your tires have the appropriate tire pressure is important if you want to get the most performance and longest life out of your tire. Your vehicle’s ideal tire pressure is typically found on a sticker that’s located on the driver’s door. Other places you can find the information include the driver door jamb, left rear door or jamb, and inside the gas cap door.
Tires should generally be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure and never beyond the maximum pressure indicated on the sidewalls. Remember that tires lose pressure because oxygen molecules are able to seep through the gaps of rubber molecules. Hence, it’s a good maintenance practice to check your vehicle’s tire pressure once a month. You should also rotate your tires at regular intervals so that they wear out evenly.
Overinflating a tire can be dangerous because it cuts down the tire’s lifespan and reduces traction. You wouldn’t want a tire blowing out in the middle of the road, and you certainly don’t want to lose control of your tires in an emergency. To avoid overinflating your tires, make sure you’re using a tire pressure gauge.
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