Pocket these 'tips' to help avoid car tire explosions in hot weather
In the summer, when the outside temperature in general and the road surface in particular are always very high, cars are very susceptible to problems such as flat tires and tire explosions. So, what should drivers do to keep their tires safe in the hot summer days?
Tires are extremely important parts, they bear great pressure due to the weight of the car and are in direct contact with the road surface. When the car is running, tire problems often occur very suddenly and unpredictably, especially in the summer, when the air and road surface temperatures increase.
These problems can directly affect the safety of passengers in the car and those around them. In fact, many serious traffic accidents that have occurred recently have been caused by car tires, which can be due to excessive wear, cracks, and tire explosions.
 |
A serious traffic accident occurred on National Highway 10 in An Duong District, Hai Phong City, killing two people on May 2. The cause is believed to be a car with a flat tire that caused the driver to lose control. Photo: Hai Phong Page |
Mr. Nguyen Duc Thi - Owner of Thi Lop Auto Tire Center chain in Hanoi said that tires, like many other parts, need to be checked and taken care of, especially in the hot season. Regular tire care will minimize tire damage, making it safer to operate the vehicle.
According to this expert, in the summer with high temperatures, there are 3 very important notes that car owners need to pay special attention to in order to minimize risks on the road as follows:
First, inflate according to manufacturer's standards
When the weather is hot, the road surface temperature can reach up to 60 degrees Celsius, the increased temperature causes the tire pressure to increase, this makes the tire pressure much higher than normal, high risk of tire explosion.
Therefore, it is necessary to periodically inflate car tires to the correct standard pressure provided by the manufacturer. The standard pressure parameters are printed on the tire or on the car door, measured under standard conditions (about 20-21 degrees Celsius).
If the pressure is too high, the tire will be over-inflated, the middle part of the tire will mainly be in contact with the road surface, causing this part to wear more, and increasing the risk of tire explosion in sunny weather and when carrying heavy loads.
Also, do not let the tire be too soft. When the tire is under-inflated, it will increase the contact surface, causing increased friction, the tire wall will heat up very quickly when running at high speed, the risk of explosion will be greater. In addition, letting the tire be too soft will make the car consume more fuel.
If the vehicle does not have a tire pressure sensor, it should be installed to best control tire pressure on the road, promptly detect and intervene when one or more tires show signs of abnormal pressure increase.
 |
Tires need to be checked and cared for carefully in the summer. Photo: Hoang Hiep |
Second, check the tires for cracks or wear.
If one of the tires shows signs of damage such as peeling, cracking, rubber surface cracks, deep cuts from rocks, worn out tread, etc., do not hesitate to replace the tire for a safer journey. Normally, after traveling about 40,000 - 50,000km or using for 5-6 years, the car owner should replace the car tire with a new one.
However, if the vehicle is frequently driven in harsh terrain and weather conditions, the owner can rely on the actual condition of the tire to proactively replace it sooner. In addition, rotate the tires regularly to avoid uneven tire wear.
Third, maintain a reasonable speed and do not carry too much weight.
The higher the speed, the higher the tire temperature due to the friction between the tire and the road surface. Therefore, experts advise that in hot weather, you should not drive too fast, especially when cornering and in bad road conditions.
In fact, when the car is running at high speed, cornering can cause the tire to bend very strongly, causing the tire sidewall to not only bear heavy load, but also bear lateral tearing force, increasing the risk of tire explosion.
In addition, when the weather is hot, you should not carry too much weight, this increases the pressure on the tires. Therefore, in the summer, you should remove unnecessary items and items from the car, limit overloading.
 |
Mr. Nguyen Duc Thi is checking and taking care of tires for customers. |
In addition to the three "tips" mentioned above, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thi also gave some advice to car owners when driving long distances in hot weather to arrange reasonable rest periods. Rest periods not only help drivers regain alertness but also give all parts of the car, including the tires, time to cool down, thereby operating more smoothly and safely.
Before each trip, the car owner needs to check and ensure that the spare tire is still working properly and is inflated to the right pressure. It is advisable to equip the car with an electric pump to promptly refill when needed, and at the same time practice how to remove and install tires skillfully to handle immediately when your tire accidentally explodes or deflates.