Can You Drive with Underinflated Tires?
3 Answers
If the underinflation is caused by a minor air leak, driving at low speeds for short distances is generally not a major issue. However, you must avoid driving at high speeds or for long distances, as this increases the risk of a tire blowout. When tire pressure is insufficient, high-speed driving can easily cause the tire to deform in a wave-like manner, significantly raising the chances of a blowout. To prevent issues with underinflated tires while driving, it is essential to regularly check your tires during routine vehicle use. If the tire pressure drops without any apparent reason, inspect the tire for leaks, punctures from nails, or other damage.
Last time I went fishing in the suburbs, I encountered low tire pressure. The repair shop was over ten kilometers away, so I had to tough it out and drive for a while. The steering wheel became extremely heavy, and the whole car shook when going over small bumps. The scariest part was feeling the rear of the car drift during sudden braking. When I got home, I noticed many small cracks on the tire sidewalls. The mechanic said if I had kept driving, the tire could have blown at any moment. Now I’ve made it a habit to check the tire pressure every time I refuel—safety is no joke. Never drive on the highway with low tire pressure; that feeling of losing control is unforgettable.
The most obvious sign of insufficient tire pressure is faster fuel consumption. Once when my tire pressure was 0.3 bar lower than recommended, I burned nearly two extra liters of fuel over the same distance. During a repair, the mechanic measured the tires with calipers and said the contact surface was 1/3 wider than normal, increasing rolling resistance. Now I use a tire pressure monitoring app and top up immediately if it drops below 2.0 bar—this habit saves fuel costs and prevents uneven tire wear. Note that tire pressure naturally decreases in winter, so remember to top up after temperature drops.
