Is it harmful if half of the car tire is submerged in water?
3 Answers
Although there is no explicit provision in national laws prohibiting driving barefoot, some regional implementation measures have added regulations prohibiting driving barefoot, wearing slippers, or high heels. Hazards of driving barefoot: Bare feet can easily slip due to sweat, which is very dangerous in emergency situations. Driving barefoot is not as easy to control in terms of force compared to driving with shoes on. Over time, the muscles in the soles of the feet will fatigue, weakening or even losing the perception of force feedback on the pedals. Combined with the effect of sweating on the soles, it can easily lead to slipping and operational errors. Therefore, driving barefoot is not allowed. Choosing shoes for driving: 1. It is suitable to wear thin-soled, soft flat shoes. Flat shoes fit the feet completely, allowing full control of the brake, clutch, and accelerator when applying force, making the car easier to control, ensuring both safety and good foot feel. 2. Canvas shoes, flat leather shoes, and some lightweight running shoes are relatively suitable. If possible, keep a pair of shoes specifically for driving in the car. This way, you can wear your favorite shoes when going out normally and also wear suitable driving shoes to ensure driving safety.
If a car's tires are half submerged in water, it generally won't cause immediate major issues. I've experienced this several times myself, especially when driving through puddles during the rainy season—tires often sit half-submerged for a while. The key factors are the depth of the water and the duration of submersion. Short-term partial submersion isn’t a big problem since tires are made of waterproof rubber that resists moisture. However, there are a few things to watch out for: if the wheel rims rust, it can affect balance and cause the car to vibrate while driving; prolonged soaking may allow water to seep into small gaps in the tire walls, promoting mold growth and accelerating rubber aging, while also making tire pressure unstable. That’s why I always recommend drying the tire surfaces as soon as possible after driving through water and checking for any obvious damage or air leaks. During regular maintenance, pay extra attention to cleaning the inner side of the tires to prevent mud and debris buildup—this helps extend their lifespan.
Partial tire submersion is quite common. As someone who enjoys studying car parts in my spare time, the first thing to do in this situation is not to panic—the key is identifying the water type and environment. If it's rainwater or shallow stream water submerging half the tire, there’s usually no major issue. The rubber is wear-resistant and water-tolerant, while the metal rim may develop slight rust from moisture but won’t affect driving. Post-event checks are crucial: rinse off mud to prevent chemical corrosion; prolonged soaking requires caution as internal moisture may deform the inner tube or cause leaks—wear gloves and carefully inspect the tread for cracks. Excessive water ingress in the tire’s vulnerable sidewalls reduces grip and increases skidding risks, so avoid deep water areas next time to preserve rim longevity.
