Can a Burning Tire Be Extinguished with Water?
2 Answers
Do not use water. When a tire catches fire and emits smoke, blindly dousing it with water can lead to more severe consequences. It is recommended to use a professional fire extinguisher. Below is relevant information about tires: 1. Car tires are made of rubber. Under normal driving conditions, they function without issues. However, during high summer temperatures, prolonged high-speed driving, or emergency braking that generates friction, a significant amount of heat energy is produced. Once the temperature reaches the ignition point, it can cause the tire to self-ignite. After a car tire catches fire, the rubber becomes thinner as it burns, and once melted, it can no longer withstand the tire pressure. 2. Rapidly splashing cold water on the tire can cause abnormal aging of the rubber and even lead to the separation of the tire's inner layers. The burning, melted rubber, being less dense than water, will float on the water's surface and continue to burn. At the same time, the immense pressure may rupture the already weakened tire.
Last year, at a fire safety training, I learned that you should never use water to extinguish a tire fire. Why is that? Tires are a mixture of rubber and air, and when water is poured on them at high temperatures, it rapidly evaporates into steam, causing an internal explosion or a surge in flames. If you see oil stains on or around the vehicle, such as leaked engine oil or gasoline, water can spread the fire even faster, making it more dangerous. I once witnessed a roadside accident where someone panicked and used water, only to scald themselves. The correct approach is to immediately turn off the engine, remove the key, have everyone move to a safe distance, and use a dry powder or ABC-class fire extinguisher to aim at the base of the flames. For prevention, always pay attention to brake and tire temperatures while driving, avoid overloading or sudden braking, and it’s best to keep a fire extinguisher in the car. Remembering these small tips can be life-saving in critical moments.
