Can You Drive with 1.2 Tire Pressure?
4 Answers
Driving with a tire pressure of 1.2 bar is not recommended, as the tire pressure warning will activate when it falls below 1.5 bar. Driving with insufficient tire pressure can cause excessive flexing of the tire body, generating high heat. In severe cases, this may lead to a tire blowout. Therefore, continuing to drive with low tire pressure is highly dangerous. If your tire pressure is too low, promptly visit a 4S shop to have a professional diagnose the cause. Hazards of Overinflated or Underinflated Tires: For tires, the pressure should neither be too high nor too low. Overinflated tires reduce the contact area with the road, leading to poor traction and negatively affecting the car's handling and driving stability. Underinflated tires may experience wave-like deformation during high-speed driving, shortening their lifespan and increasing the risk of a blowout. Standard Tire Pressure Introduction: According to the international GBT2978-2008 standard, the recommended tire pressures are as follows: Standard tires: 2.4-2.5 bar; Reinforced tires: 2.8-2.9 bar; Maximum pressure: should not exceed 3.5 bar.
As a long-haul driver who frequently travels on highways, I must warn you that driving with a tire pressure of 1.2 is absolutely unacceptable! This is far below the normal range, as standard car tire pressure typically falls between 2.2 and 2.5. A pressure of 1.2 is practically like having no air in the tires. If you insist on driving, you risk a blowout at any moment, reduced handling performance, increased likelihood of fishtailing during turns, and longer braking distances. I've personally witnessed accidents caused by neglecting this issue. I strongly advise you to pull over immediately and check the pressure with a tire gauge. If it's indeed that low, it's best to find an air station or call for roadside assistance. Make it a habit to check your tire pressure before every trip to prevent such emergencies. Remember, safety always comes first—don't take unnecessary risks to save time.
From my daily car repair experience, a tire pressure of 1.2 is definitely not safe to drive with—it's way too low and puts excessive stress on the tires. Driving with such low pressure not only feels unstable, as if driving on cotton, but also accelerates tire wear and may damage the internal structure. In the long run, you'll inevitably need to replace the tires sooner. Low tire pressure also increases fuel consumption. I've estimated that a 20% drop in pressure can add an extra 1-2 liters per 100 kilometers. The solution is simple: find a safe spot to park, manually inflate the tires to around 2.2 using a pump, or visit an auto repair shop as soon as possible. Don’t underestimate this small issue—proper maintenance can significantly extend tire life.
When encountering a tire pressure of 1.2, my most direct advice is not to drive—the risk is too high. With such low tire pressure, the support is insufficient, and the tire may deform or even burst at high speeds, especially in hot weather which makes it even more dangerous. I've been in a similar situation before and had to slowly drive at low speed to the nearest service station. If the distance is over a kilometer, don't push your luck. For inflation, use a mobile app to check the recommended value (usually found on the label inside the door), then borrow tools to temporarily add air. Tire issues often trigger a chain reaction—don't wait for an accident to regret it. Handle it promptly for a safe journey.
