Is it easy to have a flat tire if the side of the tire is gnawed?
2 Answers
Tire blowouts can occur if the side of the tire is gnawed. Here is an introduction about tires: 1. Tires are round, elastic rubber products assembled on various vehicles or machinery for ground rolling. They are usually mounted on metal rims, supporting the vehicle body, cushioning external impacts, achieving contact with the road surface, and ensuring the vehicle's driving performance. 2. Tires are often used under complex and harsh conditions, enduring various deformations, loads, forces, and high and low temperature effects during operation. Therefore, they must have high load-bearing performance, traction performance, and cushioning performance. 3. At the same time, they are also required to have high wear resistance and flex resistance, as well as low rolling resistance and heat generation. Half of the world's rubber consumption is used in tire production, highlighting the significant rubber consumption by tires. 4. When purchasing new tires, ensure that the new tire's size, load range, speed rating, and construction type are the same as the original tires.
I once had a small chunk taken out of my tire sidewall by a curb while driving, and it quickly went flat. The sidewall is the thinnest part of a tire, lacking the steel wire reinforcement found in the tread—it's just a layer of rubber. So once it gets nicked or scratched, the high internal pressure can cause it to split or even explode rapidly. This risk is especially high at highway speeds, potentially leading to loss of control and accidents. Since that incident, I've made it a habit to spend a minute checking the sidewalls every time I park, looking for cuts, bulges, or signs of foreign objects. If there's any damage, I head straight to the tire shop for a replacement—no delays. Safety outweighs saving money; the cost of a blowout far exceeds that of a new tire. Keeping a tire pressure gauge handy is also useful for regular checks to ensure there's no abnormal air leakage.
