Is it easier to have a tire blowout with high tire pressure or low tire pressure?
2 Answers
Tire blowouts are more likely to occur with either excessively high or excessively low tire pressure. It is advisable to maintain tire pressure at a moderate level. Below is information about car tire pressure from Baidu Baike: 1. Overview: Tire pressure, strictly speaking, refers to the air pressure inside the tire. Tire pressure is akin to the blood pressure of a car, and its level plays a crucial role in the vehicle's performance and power. Air pressure is the lifeline of a tire; both excessively high and low pressure can shorten the tire's lifespan. 2. Additional Information: Low pressure increases tire body deformation, leading to cracks on the tire sidewalls and causing flexing movements, which generate excessive heat, accelerate rubber aging, fatigue the cord layers, and break the cords. It also increases the tire's contact area with the ground, accelerating wear on the tire shoulders. High pressure causes excessive stretching and deformation of the tire cords, reducing the tire body's elasticity and increasing the load on the car while driving. In case of impact, this can lead to internal cracks and blowouts.
As a veteran with over a decade of experience in auto repair shops, I can confidently tell you that low tire pressure is more likely to cause blowouts. Think about it: when tires are underinflated, the sidewalls deform excessively during driving, generating excessive friction heat. When this heat accumulates to a certain point, the rubber softens, the sidewalls can't hold up, and boom—you get a blowout. I've seen countless cases of high-speed blowouts due to insufficient tire pressure in the shop, especially common during summer. As for high tire pressure, while it makes tires stiffer and the ride bumpier and less comfortable, it rarely leads directly to blowouts unless you inflate them to dangerously high levels. So make it a habit to check your tire pressure monthly with a simple tire gauge. The standard values are usually listed on the door label or in the manual—don't slack off, as this affects your family's driving safety.
