How to avoid the explosion of car tires in the summer?

Arab weather - Many Arab countries witness hot to very hot weather most days of the summer, and temperatures rise on some days to record levels, as the maximum summer temperature was recorded in July 2016 in Kuwait and reached 54 degrees Celsius.

With this sweltering summer heat, car tires are one of the most vulnerable things to damage, and the heat can expel air from inside the tires, which can cause you to lose control of the car.

Dangers of air expansion inside tires with heat

The air inside the tires is what actually supports the weight of the car, the air pressure inside the tire is up to 32 psi.

As a general rule, the air pressure inside the tire increases by 0.1 bar as the temperature rises by 10 degrees Celsius, this may not seem like a big change, but remember that the air pressure inside the tire of a normal car is between 30 and 35 psi, meaning that the increase in air pressure A few bars can cause a tire to explode, and even if it doesn't, excessive tire inflation may cause the brakes to fail to function efficiently, and damage the tire before its life.

Three factors affect car tires in hot summer:

1. Friction with asphalt: tires are exposed to friction with asphalt while driving, which raises their temperature (especially in summer).
2. Molecules expand with heat: The tire material contains an amount of compressed air, all materials are made of particles and atoms including tires, and when the temperature of the particles increases, they begin to vibrate strongly and expand.
3. Rubber Stretch: Tire rubber is designed to withstand temperatures, wear and cracking, but there is certainly a limit to what rubber can withstand, as in balloon rubber that can withstand a certain amount of air before it explodes.

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Signs of overheating car tires

Watch for these signs to protect your tire from exploding. If you notice any of these signs, park your car until the tires have cooled.

1. Hot Tire: If the tire is hot to the touch, this is a clear indication that it is overheating.
2. High air pressure: Check if the tire is too inflated with a pressure gauge.
3. Do not rely on the tire condition monitoring system: the main objective of the tire condition monitoring system in the car is to warn you if one or more tires need to be inflated, but if the pressure inside the tires is high, the system will not work to warn you.

How to avoid the explosion of car tires due to the heat in the summer?

Here are some tips to prevent your tire from exploding in the summer, especially if you are driving long distances:

1. Ensure optimal tire inflation: The ideal air pressure for safe driving depends on the type of vehicle you are driving, and the vehicle manufacturer specifies the recommended pressure, and it is usually mentioned on the driver’s door from the inside and in the vehicle’s user manual. (Note: Do not confuse the “recommended” quantity with the “maximum” quantity that the tire can tolerate which is written on the tire itself.)
2. Check tire pressure: Check the tire pressure before setting off with a pressure gauge, check the tire pressure every 2 hours or every 160 km for added safety.
3. Park until the tires have cooled: Waiting for the tires to cool down is the best thing to do when they are overheating. If you think getting some air out of the tire is a quick fix, it could cause you to drive with underinflated tires, which could put you at risk.
4. Replace your worn out tires: Worn tires are the most likely to explode. You can consider buying all-season tires or summer tires that are specifically designed to withstand high temperatures.
5. Keep your tires clean: Add a layer of wax to your tires to keep them from getting stiff.
6. Stick to the speed limits: the higher the speed, the greater the rate of friction, and therefore the temperature of the tire increases, which increases the possibility of exploding.
7. Take into account the vehicle's load: the higher the vehicle's load, the more weight the tires can bear and therefore the more likely they are to explode.

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The difference between summer tires and all-season tires

Summer tires are ideal in the following cases:

• For high-performance cars that are designed to go fast and maneuver
• Quick response, cornering and stopping ability
• In countries where the winter is mild and the temperature is not less than 7 degrees Celsius

All-season tires are the perfect choice in the following cases:

• If you live in a temperate area, where the cold is not severe and the winter months pass peacefully without snow
• If you want to use the same tires all year round
• You don't have room to store another set of tires

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