Soft tires have insufficient air pressure and can increase fuel consumption, affect vehicle handling, and wear out faster. Under-inflated tires can reduce fuel economy by 25%. Nitrogen can reduce air pressure fluctuation. Soft tires can cause tire damage, blowouts, and hydroplaning. Regular tire pressure checks are important for safety and fuel efficiency.
A soft tire is a tire that does not have enough air pressure to meet the manufacturer’s recommended ratings and settings. Every tire manufactured today includes the recommended air pressure ratings embossed on the sidewall of the tire. Operating a vehicle with a soft tire can increase the rolling resistance of the tire, resulting in excessive fuel consumption. Vehicle handling traits can also be negatively affected by soft tires. Perhaps the biggest drawback to operating a vehicle on soft tires is that the tires wear at a higher rate when operated at reduced air pressures.
Under-inflated tires are one of the leading causes of excess fuel use in the world. The American Automobile Agency, or AAA, has stated that operating a vehicle with soft tires can result in a 25 percent reduction in fuel economy. There are many factors that can lead to soft tires. Oxygen is perhaps one of the main factors on soft tyres. The molecules that make up the air that is pumped into a tire are small enough that they can leach out of a rubber tire compound over time.
Temperature and other factors combine to create low inflation problems. As the air temperature rises, the air molecules get larger, giving an exaggerated air pressure reading. As the temperature drops, the air molecules deflate, causing the tires to go flat. In an effort to reduce this fluctuation in air pressure, many manufacturers recommend inflating tires with nitrogen instead of compressed air. Nitrogen molecules are not only larger than air molecules, which prevent osmosis of the gas through the tire’s rubber, but they are also lighter than air and create slightly reduced rolling resistance.
The dangers caused by driving on soft tires are tire damage and blowouts. Heat is generated from operating soft tires, and this heat is often associated with sudden and unexpected blowouts. A flat tire also runs a much wider footprint on the road than a properly inflated tire. In rainy or wet conditions, this wider footprint can lead to hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is a condition where the soft tires actually ride on top of the water instead of going through the water.
It’s a good idea for people to check the air in a vehicle’s tires every month. It is vitally important to assess the tire’s air pressure after noticeable changes in weather or temperature. As fall slides into winter, a tire can lose nearly half its recommended air pressure. Driving with properly inflated tires helps save fuel and is safer.
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