Is a Tire Pressure of 150 kPa Indicative of a Puncture?
1 Answers
A tire pressure of 150 kPa does not necessarily indicate a puncture. Apart from a puncture, other reasons could include issues with the tire's valve core, leading to slow air leakage. Hazards of Low Tire Pressure: Increased friction coefficient with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; Heavier steering wheel and tendency to veer off course, compromising driving safety; Increased movement of various parts of the tire, causing abnormal heat due to excessive rolling; Reduced functionality of the cords and rubber, leading to delamination or cord breakage, and excessive friction with the rim causing damage and abnormal wear at the bead area; Exponentially increased friction between the tire and the ground, leading to a sharp rise in tire temperature, softening of the tire, and a drastic reduction in strength. High-speed driving under these conditions may result in a blowout; Increased deformation of the tire body, making the sidewalls prone to cracking, along with flexing movements that cause excessive heat, accelerating rubber aging, fatigue of the cord layers, and cord breakage. It also increases the tire's contact area with the ground, hastening wear at the shoulder. 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 upon inspection, drive to a tire shop promptly for a repair and 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 advisable to inspect the rim and consider replacement.