Owning a car requires you to keep a tab over everything ranging from monthly lease payments to being extra cautious while driving. Given our hectic work schedule, we often fail to ensure the top-notch running condition of the vehicle. Spending a laidback Saturday afternoon getting an oil change doesn’t seem like a tempting choice although regular maintenance is required for lessening the chances of a breakdown and adding to the longevity of your car. If the car part wears out, then the vehicle will not function properly and increase the likeliness of an accident.
Tires are a major culprit in vehicle mishaps. Worn treads can lead to loss of control or a complete blowout of the vehicle. Overinflated tires can render your braking assist systems null and void by exploding accidentally. About one-third of all light trucks, passenger cars, and SUVs traveling on the road have driven with at least one underinflated tire in their lifetime. Today we are going to list out the reasons why underinflated tires are deemed hazardous:
- High temperatures and underinflated tires are like oil and water. They simply do not mix and can even lead to explosions in the worst cases. Tires tend to flatten with constant use and this friction builds up heat. Driving inflicts pressure on the tires causing them to lose strength and cause a blowout. Treads help in cooling the tires by blowing cool air between the grooves. However, hot treads cannot perform with similar efficiency. Blowing a tire can make it difficult to steer and even impact the braking system. Drivers often swerve into another lane causing head-to-head collisions. If you ever face such a crisis due to the negligence of another driver, then you can seek the assistance of a Winchester personal injury lawyer to get your rightful compensation.
- A softer tire sidewall can increase the chance of top-heavy vehicles rolling over by increasing its sway on a corner or curve. Blowouts can lead to horrendous accidents when the driver loses control over the brakes or the steering wheel. The wheel’s hub, rim, and other parts might get damaged when a car with an underinflated tire hits a pothole. Riding such a car gets very uncomfortable as the excessive wear and tear on the inner and outer shoulders of the underinflated tires cause the center of the tread to bow in slightly.
- Worn out or underinflated tires can decrease traction. This makes your vehicle more vulnerable to chances of accidents on snowy, wet, or icy roads. Underinflation also hampers the locking and stability of the tire reducing the effectiveness of anti-lock braking and automatic traction control systems.
- An underinflated tire inflicts a lot of pressure on the car’s suspension system and chassis. These parts lose their effectiveness over time alongside rotors and brakes leading to the requirement of costly repairs.
Conclusion
It is recommended to check your tire’s pressure once every month. You can do it easily at home with a gauge or get it checked from the air pumps at service stations. Modern cars are often accompanied by a warning system that sends alerts to the driver whenever the tires need air and some even indicate which tire.