Is It Serious If a Tire Runs Over Glass Shards?
2 Answers
Whether glass shards damage car tires depends on the situation. If the glass shards the tire runs over are not sharp, the tire is generally fine. This is because car tires often encounter small stones and glass shards while driving, and the tire tread is structurally robust, reinforced with steel wires. Hazards of Low Tire Pressure: Increased friction coefficient with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; factors detrimental to driving safety, such as a tendency to veer off course; increased movement in various parts of the tire, causing abnormal heating due to excessive rolling; reduced functionality of the cord and rubber, leading to delamination or cord breakage, and excessive friction with the rim, resulting in damage to the bead area and abnormal wear; Friction between the tire and the ground multiplies, causing a sharp rise in tire temperature, softening the tire, and drastically reducing its strength. High-speed driving may lead to a blowout; increased deformation of the tire body, making the tire side prone to cracks, along with flexing movements, leading to excessive heat generation, accelerating rubber aging, fatigue in the cord ply, and cord breakage. It also increases the tire's contact area with the ground, accelerating wear on the tire shoulder.
I almost had an accident shortly after I started driving. Last year on my way home from work, it was dark and I didn’t notice running over a pile of broken glass. I heard a loud 'pop' from the wheel but didn’t think much of it and kept driving. The next morning, the tire was flat—turns out a small piece of glass had punctured it, causing a slow leak. Thankfully, it didn’t blow out, or it could have been much more dangerous. Tire surfaces are made of soft rubber, while glass is hard and sharp, making it easy to pierce the tire and cause damage. At best, it leads to slow leaks and increased fuel consumption; at worst, it can cause a blowout at high speed, making it hard to control the car. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to pay more attention to the road and avoid glass shards whenever possible. It’s also important to regularly check tire wear and pressure to prevent issues before they happen—safety first.
