Is it safe to drive with a tire pressure of 172?
2 Answers
A tire pressure of 172 kPa is not safe for continued driving. According to the international standard GBT2978-2008, the recommended tire pressures are: 240-250 kPa for standard tires, 280-390 kPa for reinforced tires, with a maximum pressure not exceeding 350 kPa. A pressure of 170 kPa is considered too low and driving under such conditions is not advisable. Hazards of low tire pressure: Increased friction with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; Heavier steering wheel and increased tendency for the vehicle to drift, compromising driving safety; Increased movement of tire components, causing excessive rolling and abnormal heat generation; Reduced functionality of the cord and rubber, leading to delamination or cord breakage, and excessive friction with the rim causing damage to the bead area and abnormal wear; Exponentially increased friction between the tire and the ground, causing a rapid rise in tire temperature, softening of the tire, and a sharp decrease in strength. High-speed driving under these conditions may lead to tire blowouts; Increased tire deformation, making the tire sidewalls prone to cracking, along with flexing movements that cause excessive heat, accelerating rubber aging, fatigue of the cord layers, cord breakage, and increased tire contact area, which accelerates shoulder wear. Methods to address 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 during inspection, promptly drive to a tire shop for repair and reinflation; If the tire pressure warning reappears after inflation without any punctures, it may be due to air leakage caused by a deformed wheel rim. It is recommended to inspect the rim and replace it if necessary.
That day when I checked the tires, I found the pressure was only 172 kPa, and I immediately became alert. This was about 30% lower than the normal value, and it definitely didn't feel right while driving. With such low tire pressure, the contact area between the tires and the road increases, not only causing fuel consumption to rise sharply but also making the steering feel particularly heavy. The most critical issue is that low tire pressure during highway driving can cause tire temperatures to soar, leading to delamination of the cord layers—I've personally seen accidents caused by tire blowouts due to this. Last time I went for maintenance at the 4S shop, the technician said that if the tire pressure is below 180 kPa, it must be addressed immediately. I recommend you find the nearest air pump to inflate it to around 230 kPa and also check the wheel rim edges for slow leaks, as abnormal tire pressure is often a precursor to a nail puncture.
