What are the potential consequences of driving at high speeds with underinflated tires?

[Molly]

Tire pressure that is too low during high-speed driving can lead to a blowout, and even low-speed driving can cause tire damage. If left undetected for an extended period, it poses a threat to future driving. When driving at high speeds with underinflated tires, the friction between the tires and the road surface increases exponentially, causing the tire temperature to rise. This makes the tires softer and significantly reduces their strength. The more underinflated the tires are, the greater the decrease in tire strength. Tire pressure can be about 10% higher than the standard pressure, but it must never be lower than the standard pressure. This is because when driving at high speeds with insufficient tire pressure, the sidewall tire cords experience excessive bending deformation, generating heat rapidly, which in severe cases can scorch the cords. Wave deformation occurs due to the standing wave phenomenon in tires, where the part of the tire in contact with the ground deforms and, due to low pressure and high speed, fails to return to its original shape before the next contact with the ground.