Is it safe to drive with a tire pressure of 172?
4 Answers
When the tire pressure is 172, it is not safe to continue driving because low tire pressure increases tire movement, generates excessive friction leading to temperature rise, softens the tire, and reduces its strength. Prolonged high-speed driving under such conditions may result in a tire blowout. Relevant information about tire pressure is as follows: Normal tire pressure range: The ideal tire pressure ranges between 2.3 to 2.7 BAR. However, during summer when temperatures are high, tire pressure may rise above 3.0 BAR after driving. Therefore, maintaining tire pressure between 2.3 to 2.5 BAR in summer is more appropriate. Consequences of low tire pressure: Increases friction coefficient with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; causes steering wheel heaviness and potential alignment issues, compromising driving safety; excessive tire movement leads to abnormal heat generation; friction with the ground multiplies, rapidly increasing tire temperature, softening the tire, and drastically reducing its strength, which can cause a blowout during high-speed driving; low pressure increases tire deformation, leading to sidewall cracks, flexing movements, excessive heat, rubber degradation, fabric layer fatigue, cord breakage, and increases the tire's contact area, accelerating shoulder wear.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I must say 172 kPa tire pressure is absolutely unacceptable. Normal sedan tire pressure generally ranges between 220 to 250 kPa - yours is in a severely underinflated state. You'll immediately notice heavier steering, sluggish acceleration, and worst of all, fuel consumption will spike by 20-30%. More dangerously, excessive sidewall deformation occurs, which combined with high-speed driving temperatures could lead to blowouts. I learned this the hard way when I ignored 190 kPa pressure once and ended up with a bulging sidewall that ruined a brand-new tire. Get it inflated immediately, and remember to always adjust when the tires are cold.
I've always maintained the habit of checking tire pressure monthly, and 172 kPa is indeed too low. The standard tire pressure for regular family cars is usually indicated on the door frame label, mostly ranging from 2.2 to 2.5 bar. When the pressure drops this low, the tire contact area increases by about 30%, leading to abnormal wear on the tire shoulders. The most direct impact is significantly increased body roll during turns, and it's also more prone to skidding in rainy conditions. Last winter when my tire pressure dropped to 180, I could feel the rear end becoming unstable during cornering. I recommend using an air pump to inflate to the standard value as soon as possible. After inflation, remember to drive a couple of kilometers and recheck, as slow leaks can sometimes be hard to detect.
From a safety perspective, a tire pressure of 172kPa will significantly increase braking distance. Test data shows that when tire pressure is 30% below the standard value, braking distance on wet roads can increase by over 15%. Tire deformation also leads to sluggish handling, causing delayed wheel response during high-speed lane changes. During my track day training, the instructor emphasized that for every 0.5bar decrease in tire pressure, tire temperature rises by an additional 10 degrees Celsius—especially dangerous during hot summer days. Keep a portable inflator in your car; nowadays even budget models around 100 yuan can display tire pressure digitally.
