What are the causes of tire fires?
4 Answers
Tire fires are mainly caused by three reasons: excessive speed, overloading, and overheating of tires leading to ignition; bearing fires igniting tires; or brake lock-up causing excessive friction that results in spontaneous combustion. Situations requiring tire replacement: Check the tire wear indicators: Regardless of the tire brand, wear indicator marks are set in the groove areas of the tread. When the tread depth has worn down to the level of the raised indicator rubber, it indicates that the tire needs to be replaced. Bulging phenomenon: If the tread bulges, it means the local rubber has deteriorated or there is uneven pressure. In this case, the tire may explode at any time, making continued driving extremely dangerous, so it should be replaced promptly.
Tire fires are pretty scary, and we see them all the time at the repair shop, mostly caused by serious brake issues. Imagine you've just driven down a mountain road or a long downhill stretch—your brake pads are constantly rubbing against the rotors, getting so hot they can ignite the rubber inside the tire. Then there's driving on a flat tire until the sidewall wears paper-thin; the friction from the road can generate enough heat to start a fire. And let's not forget about road hazards like rocks or debris getting stuck and grinding against the tire, or a wheel bearing failing and causing the wheel to lock up and drag. That kind of friction is like striking a match—once the temperature rises, boom, it's on fire!
Oh man, I almost ran into this situation once on the highway! The road was so hot in summer you could fry an egg on it, and with the heavy load, after driving for two hours, I felt like the rear tires were smoking. I quickly pulled over to the emergency lane and saw that the wheel hubs were too hot to touch. Turns out, driving long distances on the highway causes the tires to keep rotating, and the internal friction combined with the external temperature makes it impossible for the heat to dissipate. Overloaded vehicles are especially at risk—it's like the entire tire is being roasted over a fire. A word of advice: if you see blue smoke coming from the tires or smell burning rubber, don’t keep driving! Turn off the engine immediately—your life is more important!
Tire fires are essentially caused by the tire's inability to withstand heat and bursting. For example, if you opt for cheap, off-brand, low-quality tires with insufficient cord strength, the internal temperature can rise during driving, leading to a blowout. Additionally, old tires that have been used for seven or eight years with cracked rubber can deform and twist severely at high speeds, generating terrifying friction that can ignite the tire itself. More critically, some vehicles are overloaded to the point where the tires are nearly flat, causing extreme deformation and distortion. The friction-generated heat in such cases is ten times worse than normal tires, making even a tiny spark deadly. Off the record, I've seen many cargo truck owners overload their vehicles to save on shipping costs, only to end up with the truck burned down to its frame midway.
