There are more tire blowouts during summer than in any other season of the year. Tires heat up the longer you drive your car, and the heat buildup is exacerbated by the high summer temperatures. When you drive in your air-conditioned car in 90-degree temperatures, you may not realize that the road surface temperature could easily reach higher than 150 degrees.
Heat is a tire’s worst enemy. Tires are made of rubber compounds. Rubber compounds reach critical temperature levels at around 200 to 210°F. At this point, the rubber will start to deteriorate, which can result in tire separation.
New tires with full tread will generate more heat than worn out tires. This means that if you have new tires, you should not be driving at very high speeds when the temperature is hot. That is the reason why racing tires have very little tread. If they ran at race speed with full tread, the tires would immediately fail.
To get the best performance from your tires, keep them cool by doing the following:
- Check the tire pressure – Check your tire pressure in each of your tires when they are cool (usually in the morning or after they have sat unused for about three hours). Follow the required pressure based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. Underinflated tires generate more heat because their contact area with the road is bigger. Under-inflation of tires increases rolling resistance, affecting the car’s fuel economy and further elevating the tire temperature.
- Check the tires pressure monthly – It is normal for tires to lose about 1 psi per month. There is another 1-psi drop when the temperature descends by 10 degrees.
- Buy a good tire gauge – A portable tire compressor that you can plug into your car’s power outlet makes a good tire gauge. You can also use it to pump more air in case your tire is under inflated. Portable compressors are available in any Utah tire store.
- Check tires for punctures – If your tire keeps hemorrhaging air even though you are filling it regularly, you could have a puncture. As the tire becomes under-inflated, the temperature will rise, resulting in the deterioration of the tire. Bring your punctured tires to any Cottonwood auto repair shop or other car repair establishment in the Salt Lake Valley.
Don’t chance a tire disaster this summer. Prolong the life of your tires and avoid accidental tire failures by keeping them cool and in good repair.
It is important to maintain a cool tire during summer to avoid tire failures. Because of the warm pressure caused by heat buildup, tire weakens and may result in unexpected tire blowout which is very common during the summer season. Too much heat can also affect the reliability and safety of your tires. Here’s an additional information how to keep tires cool during summer.
