What Role Does The Tyre Pressure Play In Performance And Safety?
Importance of tyres is overlooked many times, and with it, certain aspects of tyres too. One of these aspects is tyre pressure. It is an indispensable factor when it comes to the performance and the safety of a vehicle.
Tyres can be over-inflated or under-inflated. Excess of air pressure inside tyres leads to over-inflation, and deficit leads to under-inflation. In both states, the tyre deforms from its normal shape, which leads to a decrease in performance and safety.
Over-inflated tyres
Due to excess tyre pressure, the central part of tread bulges-out and tyres become stiff and inflexible. With bulging of the central part, contact patch (area of tread in contact with the surface) reduces. Lesser contact area leads to poor grip and increased braking distance.
As only the middle part of the tread is in contact with the surface, it wears out at a faster rate. Even the smallest of bumps and pits can be felt in over-inflated Car Tyres, which makes the ride uncomfortable. Over-inflated tyres are prone to blowout, which is the reason for about 75000 accidents and over 400 deaths of drivers in past years. Over-inflated tyres have a weak grip on wet roads and snowy tracks because of insufficient traction.
What to do if the tyres are over-inflated?
Find the valve, and unscrew the cap covering of it.
Push the little rod-like structure inside the valve and release a little amount of air.
Measure the tyre pressure with a tyre gauge. If it is still more than the recommended tyre pressure then repeat step 2.
Under-inflated tyres
In under-inflated tyres, tyre pressure is low which leads to flattening of the tyre and an increase in the contact patch. With an increase in the contact patch, rolling resistance (friction between the tyre and the surface) also increases. To overcome this resistance, more fuel is consumed, which is neither economical nor eco-friendly. Rapid burning of fuel adds to the expenditure and emits harmful pollutants in the environment. Life of Car Tyres also shortens due to the increase in rolling resistance. If tyre pressure is way too low then it will lead to the flat tyre.
Things that can be done to prevent under-inflation of tyres:
- Check tyre pressure regularly to avoid flattening of tyres.
- Upgrade tyres with better tyre technologies that can monitor tyre pressure and notify about it.
With all the information, the role of tyres Colchester pressure in performance and safety becomes evident, so it shouldn’t be ignored. Tyre pressure is just one of the many aspects which play important roles in the performance and safety of vehicles.
