Summer heat can do a lot of things, and among other things it can affect your vehicle's tires. The worst thing that can happen is that the high temperatures can cause the tires to burst.
Why does heat cause tires to expand and deflate?
Heat can have a huge effect on car tires. The air pressure in the tires increases as the temperature increases. As temperatures rise, tire pressure can increase to the point of causing the tires to burst.
Even if the tire does not burst, over-inflation can cause premature tire wear and affect braking. There are three things at play when heat causes pressure to increase: hot molecules, friction and the tire itself, he reports N1.
Hot molecules – All materials are made of atoms and molecules. When molecules are heated, they begin to vibrate intensely, and these vibrations cause expansion. Since there are molecules in the air, it's easy to understand why air-filled tires expand in the summer heat.
Friction - While driving, the tires are in contact with the asphalt and this creates a considerable amount of friction. Friction, in turn, creates heat, which makes your tires even hotter in the summer.
Guma – Rubber molecules are linked in long, twisted chains (polymers). When polymers vibrate, they contract, not expand. Car tires also have a burst point. Think of a regular balloon - if you pump a lot of air into it, it will eventually burst. The same thing can happen to tires when they are very hot, Aceable writes.
What to watch out for
During the summer, you should pay attention to several things in order to avoid flat tires. The most obvious sign that tires are overheating is if they are hot to the touch. Do not drive until your tires have cooled down.
A tire pressure gauge will tell you if your tires are overinflated due to the heat. Also, make sure the tires are properly inflated.
Replace worn tires. If your tires are already worn, they are more prone to bursting. Consider getting "summer tires," which are designed to be more suitable for high temperatures.
Also pay attention to speed limits. The slower you go, the less friction there will be. Less friction also means less heat.
Pay attention to the weight of the load. The more loaded your vehicle is, the more likely it is that the tires will go flat.
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