What is the impact of over or under inflated tyres?
You're tyre pressure is important for a number of reasons from keeping you safe, fuel economy, vehicle performance and getting the most out of your tyre's life. Here we look at the impact of under inflating and over inflating your tyres.
Under inflation
If your tyre's pressure is too low this means that more of your tyre is spent in contact with the road, meaning that there is more friction on the tyre and it heats up. In turn, this can result in premature wear on your tyre tread and can lead to tread separating and potential blowouts. It will also have an impact on your stopping distance making it longer.
All of which can lead to accidents and put yourself and others in danger.
Another effect is that of fuel consumption. With the rising costs of fuel in the current climate this is also a consideration and a simple fix of ensuring that tyre pressure is suitable will ensure your car is more efficient in making your car move.
Over inflated
Whilst under inflation has a major impact on your tyres, so does over inflation. When a tyre is overinflated it can cause the tyre to be too hard and put extra pressure on the tyre's side walls. This can reduce the traction of your tyre and can result in effects on the car's handling, performance and traction. As a result, your ride can become more bouncy and can result in uneven wear on the tread, therefore decreasing your tyre's life expectancy.