Can I continue driving with a tire pressure of 175?
3 Answers
A tire pressure of 175 kPa is not safe for driving. According to the international standard GBT2978-2008, the recommended tire pressure is generally 240-250 kPa for standard tires and 280-390 kPa for reinforced tires. The maximum tire pressure should not exceed 350 kPa. Hazards of low tire pressure: Increased friction coefficient with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; Heavier steering wheel and increased tendency for the vehicle to veer, which compromises driving safety; Excessive movement of tire components, causing abnormal heat due to over-compression; Reduced functionality of the cord and rubber, leading to delamination or cord breakage, and excessive friction with the rim, resulting in damage to the bead area and abnormal wear; Exponentially increased friction between the tire and the ground, causing a sharp rise in tire temperature, softening of the tire, and a rapid decrease in strength. High-speed driving under these conditions may lead to a blowout; Increased deformation of the tire body, making the tire sidewalls prone to cracks, and generating flexing movements that lead to excessive heat, accelerating rubber aging, fatigue of the cord layers, and cord breakage. It also increases the tire's contact area with the ground, accelerating wear on the tire shoulders. Solutions for insufficient tire pressure: If no damage is visible, simply inflate the tire to the normal pressure and reset the tire pressure monitoring system; If a puncture is found during inspection, drive to a tire repair shop promptly for a patch, then reinflate the tire; If the tire pressure warning reappears some time after inflation without any visible puncture, it may be due to air leakage caused by a deformed rim. It is recommended to inspect the rim and replace it if necessary.
That time when my tire pressure dropped to 180 really scared me, so I immediately pulled over to check. 175 is way too low - normal tire pressure for regular cars should be between 2.2 to 2.5 bar. Driving with such low pressure is dangerous because it can cause excessive deformation and overheating of the tire sidewall, especially when driving on highways in summer, which increases the risk of blowouts. The tire rim contacting the ground can also easily damage the tire. If this happens on the highway, immediately turn on your hazard lights and pull over to the emergency lane. If you're just driving short distances in the city, you can carefully drive at 20-30 mph to a repair shop, but don't go more than 2-3 kilometers. Remember to have the mechanic check the sidewall for bulges or cuts after every tire repair - last time, my tire wasn't checked after being patched, and a week later I found a crack in the sidewall.
Last time on a long trip, I encountered a tire pressure warning at 190 kPa and immediately used the onboard air pump to inflate it to the standard value. 175 kPa is a severe underinflation state, more than 30% below the standard value. Continuing to drive in this condition can cause excessive deformation of the tire's contact patch. I've seen in a car owners' group where someone stubbornly drove with a tire pressure of 160 kPa, resulting in the tire sidewall being cracked by the rim and the entire tire being scrapped. It's advisable to immediately inflate the tire to the manufacturer's recommended standard value (usually found on the B-pillar or inside the fuel filler cap). Keeping a digital display car air pump is very practical, and the newer models can even preset the pressure to stop automatically. After inflating, observe if there's rapid air leakage. If you hear a hissing sound, it indicates a puncture, and you should promptly get the tire repaired.
