Wednesday, June 16 2021

We all know tires are one of the most invaluable pieces of transportation. Without tires, our vehicles wouldn’t move. And while tires are important, sometimes they pose dangerous situations. Many people are unaware that over- or under-inflated tires create great risk for you and your passengers.

Increased Risk of Blowouts

Did you know any extra PSI can significantly increase your odds of a tire blowout? When you experience a tire blowout, your life and the lives of your passengers are put in harm's way. Since it’s extremely difficult to gain control over your vehicle during a blowout, you’re at the mercy of your tires. Mechanics consider May through October “blowout season.” This is because the increased temperatures paired with poor tire-care and lengthy road trips lead to an increased risk of blowouts.

Over-Inflated Tires

Damages Your Tires

Over-inflated tires don’t just increase the risk of blowouts. Over-inflated tires are also more likely to experience damage from roads. When a tire is properly inflated, the tire can flex and bend around any cracks or divots in the road. When a tire is over-inflated, it’s more stiff. Simply, it’s unable to bend around these holes, which can ruin your tire. It also makes for an uncomfortable ride!

Uneven Wear = More Tire Replacements

Over-inflated tires also cause uneven wear on your tires. This happens because the middle of your tire is extended further than the rest. When this area is overextended, it’s going to experience more wear than the rest of the tread. Uneven wear on your tires means you’ll have to replace them more often. To save yourself the extra money, keep your tires at the recommended PSI.

Signs your tire is over-inflated:

1. Poor traction
2. Excessive wear on centre treads
3. Bumpier ride

Under-Inflated Tires

More Friction = More Blowouts

Over-inflated tires aren’t the only worry. Under-inflated tires are just as dangerous and costly. Like over-inflated tires, under-inflated tires also cause blowouts. When a tire is under-inflated, more of the tire’s surface area touches the road. This increases friction, which increases heat and leads to advanced wear. It’s the perfect concoction for a blowout.

Increases Fuel Usage

As with any vehicle, when it’s difficult to move forward, you exhaust more energy. That’s why when your tires are under-inflated, it’s more difficult for the car to push forward. And the more difficult it is to move forward, the more fuel you use. Think about riding a bike with under-inflated tires. I bet you’d pedal with a lot more effort than usual. That effort is considered energy. And the more energy needed, the more fuel usage and cost expand.

Less Vehicle Control

The sidewalls of under-inflated tires contract more than they’re meant to. And more of the tire’s surface touches the ground. Both of these conditions make controlling and maneuvering your vehicle difficult. You’ll notice it’s tough to brake quickly. Because of this, you’re much more likely to be involved in collisions and accidents. Keep yourself and your passengers safe by properly inflating your tires.

Signs your tire is under-inflated:

1. You stop at gas stations more often
2. Hearing “whomp-whomp” when you drive
3. Poor steering control
4. Takes a long time to brake fully

How to Prevent Over- and Under-Inflating Tires

Wouldn’t life be wonderful if we could jump into the driver’s seat, not worrying about tire pressure? It would, but unfortunately in this world, it’s considered negligent driving.

The next best thing is a device that keeps your tires at their ideal pressure. With a few clicks of a button, Inflate-R gets your tires to their goldilocks pressure in just a few minutes. Don’t believe me? Check out this video:

Tire pressure can be stressful. It affects your own safety and the safety of those around you. That’s why it’s so important to regularly check your tire pressure. With Inflate-R, you just hook up the device to your tire and immediately your current PSI will appear on the screen. Not the pressure you want? Just adjust the number and click start.

With Inflate-R you can feel confident about your tires.