At what tire pressure should a car no longer be driven?
2 Answers
If the tire pressure of a car is below 1.7 bar, it should not be driven. There is a standard tire pressure chart near the fuel filler cap—use the pressure indicated there for inflation. If there is no chart near the fuel filler cap, check the door pillars on all four doors, where the recommended tire pressure is usually labeled. After the car has been driven, tire pressure may increase by 0.1 to 0.2 bar, which is normal, so there is no need to worry about minor variations in tire pressure among individual tires. The primary harm of low tire pressure is an increase in the tire's rolling friction coefficient. The contact patch of the tire and the non-contact area undergo abnormal movement, causing the tire to operate in an irregular shape rather than a perfect circle, leading to a rise in tire temperature.
My driving habit is never to continue driving when the tire pressure drops below 1.5 bar (approximately 22 psi). Last week, when my tire pressure dropped to 1.6 bar, the steering wheel started to feel heavy, and the tire sidewalls wrinkled like an old lady's face during turns. Below this value, the tire's contact area becomes too large, friction increases dramatically, and tire temperatures can soar to 100 degrees Celsius on the highway, risking a blowout at any moment. Especially during long summer trips, I'd rather spend an extra twenty minutes finding a place to refill the tires than risk driving below 1.5 bar. Keeping a portable air pump in the car is particularly useful—if the tire pressure warning light comes on, stop and address it immediately; never push your luck.