Can You Continue Driving with Underinflated Car Tires?
2 Answers
You should not continue driving with underinflated car tires. Continuing to drive can cause tire damage and may lead to a blowout. If you notice your tires are underinflated, address the issue as soon as possible. Reasons and solutions for insufficient car tire pressure: Tire or valve leakage: Visit a tire shop to identify the cause and repair or replace the tire. Deformation of the wheel hub affects the tire's sealing performance: Replace the wheel hub. Long-term overloading of the car can cause uneven tire stress: Change driving habits to maximize even tire stress distribution. Methods to avoid insufficient tire pressure: Maintain tire care: Pay attention to protecting your tires during daily use and avoid driving behaviors that may damage them. Proper tire care can extend their lifespan. Regularly check tire pressure: Before each drive and after parking, carefully observe whether the tires are underinflated.
Never drive with underinflated tires! Once on my way home from work, I noticed my right rear tire was a bit flat, but I thought I could slowly limp home. However, within two kilometers, I felt the steering wheel shaking and the car becoming unstable, especially prone to skidding during turns, which scared me into pulling over immediately. Underinflation reduces the tire's contact area with the road, worsens handling, and can cause deformation and overheating at high speeds, leading to blowouts and safety hazards. I was lucky that time, but the outer edge of the tire wore out faster, forcing me to replace it prematurely and waste money. My advice: if you notice underinflation, stop at a safe spot right away, use a portable tire pressure gauge to check, and if it's 20% or more below the recommended level, switch to the spare or call roadside assistance. Make it a habit to check tire pressure every two weeks when the tires are cold, maintaining the manufacturer's recommended level—this protects tire lifespan and saves on fuel costs.
