How to Determine if a Tire is Underinflated?
4 Answers
Methods to determine if a tire is underinflated include: 1. Visually inspect the four tires to see if any appear noticeably flat. 2. Use a tire pressure measurement device, such as a handheld tire pressure monitor or an onboard automatic tire pressure display, to accurately measure the tire pressure. 3. Install a tire pressure monitoring system to continuously monitor the tire pressure. Effects of underinflated tires: 1. Damage to the tire sidewalls and inner edges; 2. Foreign objects puncturing the tire; 3. Deformation of the wheel rim flange. Tires are circular elastic rubber products mounted on metal rims, designed to support the vehicle body, absorb external shocks, maintain contact with the road surface, and ensure the vehicle's driving performance.
When driving, if the steering wheel feels unusually heavy and requires more effort to turn than usual, it's time to suspect tire pressure. After parking, crouch down to inspect the tires. A properly inflated tire's tread pattern should fully contact the ground. If the outer side appears noticeably bulged or flattened, it's likely underinflated. The most straightforward method is to kick the tire a few times – a properly inflated tire will have some elastic rebound when kicked firmly, while a soft, non-responsive tire indicates low pressure. Long-term underinflation can also quietly increase fuel consumption. Last month, I spent an extra hundred bucks on gas because I neglected this. Make it a habit to walk around your car after parking – it allows you to check both tire condition and overall vehicle status, ensuring safety and saving money.
Veteran drivers know: Driving with low tire pressure feels particularly odd. Even on smooth roads, the car body seems to wobble slightly, and the bumpiness over speed bumps becomes noticeably worse. Severely underinflated tires produce a low, muffled rubbing sound while driving, especially noticeable around 60 km/h. The easiest way to check is to compare all four tires after parking—the one with a noticeably larger contact area than the others is the one that's flat. It's advisable to keep a simple tire pressure gauge in the trunk; the kind that costs just a few dozen bucks at the supermarket will do. Checking once a month saves a lot of hassle. Remember, low tire pressure not only wastes fuel but also causes the tire sidewalls to crack prematurely.
Before getting in the car, I make it a habit to glance at the tire sidewalls. When the tire pressure is normal, the sidewalls should stand straight and vertical; if underinflated, they'll bulge outward. Of course, it's best if the car has a tire pressure warning light, but even older models without this feature can be monitored. For example, if the dashboard shows abnormally high fuel consumption, it's a sign to be alert. Once, after refueling, I noticed an extra half-liter of fuel consumed over the same distance, and upon checking, it turned out the right rear tire was slowly leaking. The simplest method is to press hard on the center of the tread with your hand—if it easily depresses more than half a centimeter, it definitely needs air. A tire shop technician taught me a trick: pay attention to the edge of the tire bead on the rim; if there's a leak, it will be covered in black, oily dust.
