Wear and Tear Sometimes, the normal wear and tear that our tires go through is enough to cause them to go flat. Over time, normal driving will eventually wear down the tread on your tires, leaving them more susceptible to the everyday hazards of driving and increasing their chances of going flat.
Why do tires go flat?
Not-so-fun fact: your tire is most likely to go flat during the hottest months of the year. High temperatures cause the air in your tires to expand, which in turn increases the tire’s internal pressure. When the pressure rises, so does your chance for a leak or total blowout.
Is your flat tire leaking?
However, if temperatures remain consistent and your tires constantly lose pressure, there is a leak that needs attention. Age, exposure to contaminants and stress can cause parts of your tire and rim (wheel) to fail. But what do you do if your tire is not visibly damaged? Consider that one of these problems is causing your flat tire:
How much pressure does a flat tire have?
However, the pressure inside the tire could drop anywhere from 1 to 3 psi. While the tire may not be flat, you will want to apply a little more pressure to the tire. If your tire has been sitting for more than a couple of tires, it will begin to appear flat. However, the tire may still be able to maintain proper pressure levels.
Can you drive with a flat tire?
It can damage the sidewall by snapping belts embedded in the tire. It can even cause a pinch flat where the sidewall folds over and becomes punctured on the edge of the pothole in severe cases with an already underinflated tire.
Is a flat tire ruined?
Not only does driving on a flat tire dangerously decrease your vehicle’s handling, it may cause structural damage to the wheel, brakes, alignment, and potentially other components like your suspension and steering system.
Can a flat tire cause dry rot?
As long as you don’t see any dry rot occurring (cracks along the super flexed portions of where the flat is at) you really shouldn’t have anything to worry about especially seeing as how it hasn’t been driven on. A couple of days flat should not cause an issue. Awesome! Tires are about 2 1/2 years old, fair amount of tread left.
What is a flat tire?
A flat tire ( British English: flat tyre) is a deflated pneumatic tire, which can cause the rim of the wheel to ride on the tire tread or the ground potentially resulting in loss of control of the vehicle or irreparable damage to the tire.
Can a flat tire damage your car?
And if a tire degrades enough when being driven while flat, it can start to break apart and cause damage to several important components on a car. Brake lines, rotors, calipers, suspension components, wheels and fenders can get serious damage from a flat tire that begins to flail around in the tire well.
What happens if you run a tire under inflated?
According to Cooper, tires driven even a short distance while under-inflated may be damaged beyond repair. Running a tire under inflated is like running the vehicle’s engine without enough oil or coolant. It may seem to work fine for a time, but serious permanent damage has occurred.
