News

The Truth About Tires in Heat

The blistering heat of the summer months can do crazy things to your car’s tires, especially if temperatures climb too high. This can ultimately cause you to experience a blowout. Let’s find out why – what does heat really do to your tires?

Firstly, it is important to understand that heat will cause your tires to expand. The rubber expands because heat causes a tire’s air pressure to increase as the temperatures climbs.

Let’s break this down a little bit further…

For every 10 degrees that the temperature rises, in Fahrenheit, your tire pressure will also increase by 1lb PSI. (To put this in perspective, most tires only hold 30-35lbs in passenger vehicles. An increase in several pounds makes a substantial difference.)

If your tire pressure increases too much, you may experience a tire blow out. This could not only leave you stranded on the side of the road, or in need of that donut under your car, it could also put you in danger depending on the speeds you are traveling when it busts. Tires that have been over inflated, that do not give out, will experience premature wear and could potentially interfere with your ability to brake properly.

How do you avoid a tire blow out?

An obvious way to decide whether your tires are overheating is to give them a quick touch. If they are extremely hot, this is a sign that you may be on the brink of a blowout.

Another way to avoid a tire blow out is to make it a routine to check your tire pressure. This should be a habit that you fall into routinely whether it is summer or winter. This will help you to know if your tires are overinflated, and you will then be able to let air out and move along safely.

If you are driving a newer model car, you have likely seen a signal on your dashboard, at some point, signaling that your tire pressure is too low. Remember, your system will not alert you if your tire pressure is too high.

When it comes down to it, the truth is that the summer heat can cause issues for your tires, but it doesn’t have to. Be vigilant, stay aware, and check your tire pressure routinely as temperatures rise throughout the summer months.