Hot Weather and Your Tires

Many physical and chemical properties inside of your rubber tires change when extreme heat is introduced. This is why tires are more prone to a blowout during the hot summer months. With a deeper understanding of what causes these blowouts and what makes you vulnerable to them, you can reduce your chances of an accident or need for roadside service. Tire and service professionals at Car Craft in Kelowna are here to give you some need-to-know information about your tires in the summertime.

Excess Heat

The main culprit behind summertime blowouts is heat. Excess heat is generated in two main ways when traveling down the road. First is that the roads themselves are extremely hot, and that heat transfers to the tires as they roll and as they sit on hot asphalt. Secondly is that the rotational speed of the tires moves the air molecules inside which generates heat in itself. Between the two, the rubber starts to get softer and the air inside the tire starts to expand.

High Pressure

As heat is generated inside the tire from the hot roads and movement of the vehicle, the tire pressure gets higher as the air inside expands. The higher the pressure inside the tire, the more vulnerable it is to an impact or a puncture. Consider your tire like a balloon. The more you inflate the balloon, the bigger the pop will be once it blows. Your tires are the same. If you are traveling fast when your tire blows, you are in extreme danger of having an accident or a rollover. This is also why you want to keep your tires properly inflated so that your tires do not overinflate once the air inside warms up.

Underinflated Tires

In addition to overinflated tires, if your tires are underinflated the weight of the vehicle will be pushed onto the side walls which are much weaker than the treaded area of the tires. This means that you will be at risk of popping that tire if you were to hit a pothole or object in the road. Underinflated tires are also at a higher risk of having a blowout if they come in contact with a curb or median. The tire pressures listed on the side of the tire itself and on the inside of the vehicle’s door panel are meant to be measured when the tire is cold. Keep that in mind next time you fill up on air.

Low Tread and Tire Damage

Like mentioned above, heat makes rubber soft. This means you are going to leave more tread on the road as you pass along it. Your tread is going to wear faster, and the tire itself is going to be more prone to cracking and other forms of damage. Keep an extra eye out for your dread depths during hot and dry summer months.
There are several other factors that can come into play making your tires vulnerable during the summer months. However, most of these are variables that are outside of your control, and you should focus on keeping your tires well maintained and properly inflated. Tire blowout numbers also rise in the summertime due to the sheer increase in drivers traveling. Don’t become a victim of the hot roads this summer and take preventative action to keep you and your loved ones safe. Visit your local automotive service experts at Car Craft Automotive in Kelowna today for help with tires and much more.