Is a Tire Pressure of 160 kPa Indicative of a Puncture?
1 Answers
A tire pressure of 160 kPa does not necessarily indicate a puncture. Besides a puncture, there could be other reasons, such as a faulty valve core in the tire, 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 increased tendency for the vehicle to drift, which are factors detrimental to 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, as well as excessive friction between the tire and rim, resulting in damage to the bead area and abnormal wear; Exponentially increased friction between the tire and the ground, leading to a sharp rise in tire temperature, softening of the tire, and a rapid decrease in strength. High-speed driving under these conditions may cause a blowout; Increased deformation of the tire body, making the tire 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, accelerating wear on the tire shoulders. Solutions for Insufficient Tire Pressure: If no visible damage is found, simply inflate the tire to the normal pressure and reset the tire pressure monitoring system; If a puncture is detected during inspection, drive to a tire repair shop promptly for a patch and then reinflate the tire; If the tire pressure warning reappears after inflation but no puncture is found, the issue might be due to a deformed rim causing air leakage. It is advisable to inspect and replace the rim if necessary.
