If the tire is too low, the car owner will suffer double the loss.

According to research, if tire pressure drops by 0.6 bar, it will consume 4% more fuel and reduce tire life by 50%. Along with that, leaving tires under-inflated has many consequences and is unsafe on the road.

Tires are extremely important parts, they are the only part of the car that comes into contact with the road surface. Not only do they have to bear the heavy weight of the car and the reaction force from the road surface, but the tires also have to endure rolling friction when the car is moving. Therefore, tire quality and especially tire pressure greatly affect the rolling friction of the car, leading to problems with fuel consumption and tire durability.

Under-inflated tires make the car less efficient. Illustration photo

According to Associate Professor Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc - Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), energy loss due to rolling resistance accounts for an average of about 4% of the total energy of a vehicle. This loss increases with the load and speed of the vehicle, and is even greater when tire pressure is not maintained correctly.

The research results presented by Mr. Phuc show that when the tire pressure is reduced by 0.6 Bar (kg/cm2) at the same time, it can increase fuel consumption by up to 4% and reduce tire life by up to 50%. This means that if a car consumes about 10 liters/100km but the tire operates in a state of only 0.6 Bar deficiency, it will consume 10.4 liters/100km.

At the same time, if we let the tires run low for a long time, we will soon have to spend money to replace them with new tires. Therefore, maintaining the tire pressure according to the manufacturer's recommendations is extremely important, not only helping the car save fuel, reduce CO emissions into the environment but also increasing tire durability.

Drivers should check tire pressure and top it up (if necessary) before setting off. Photo: Hoang Hiep

Automotive engineering experts also point out that uneven tire inflation can cause the car to wobble, which is very dangerous and inconvenient when driving on the road. In addition, under-inflated tires cause the sidewall to bend excessively, which can break the internal structure of the tire, and when driving in places with sharp objects, it is easy to puncture or explode the tire.

In general, driving a car with under-inflated tires, whether one or more, should be avoided because it will cause the car owner to suffer double losses.

Experts give some advice to car owners as follows:

- Regularly check tire pressure before departure, ensuring it is in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended parameters. These parameters are usually stated in the vehicle's user manual or printed on the glass, foot steps, etc. depending on the vehicle. Normally, the recommended pressure for car tires is about 2.1-2.4 bar.

- If possible, you should equip a tire pressure sensor to get the most accurate pressure parameters. At the same time, always have a mini pump in the car, in case the tire is low on air, you can add more air immediately.

A flat tire due to a nail is a fairly common occurrence. Photo: Hoang Hiep

- In case you discover that your car has a nail stuck in it, leading to a flat tire, you should absolutely not try to pull the nail out of the tire because that will make your tire lose air faster. At this time, take out the mini pump to inflate it and go to the nearest tire store to handle it.

- If your tires are too worn or expired, don't hesitate to replace them with new ones to ensure your safety on the road. Car tires should only be used continuously for less than 5 years and no more than 10 years after the date of manufacture.

- Take care of both your spare tire and your vehicle's tire-changing kit and make sure they are in good working order.

Hoang Hiep