What happens when a car's tires are underinflated?

[VanAlex]

Underinflated car tires can: 1. Increase road friction coefficient, leading to higher fuel consumption; 2. Make the steering wheel heavier and prone to deviation, which is detrimental to driving safety; 3. Intensify movement in various parts of the tire, with excessive rolling causing abnormal heat generation; 4. Degrade the performance of cords and rubber, leading to cord breakage, delamination between cords and rims, or excessive friction, resulting in bead damage and abnormal wear; 5. Increase friction between the tire and the ground, causing a sharp rise in tire temperature, softening of the tire, reduced strength, and potential tire blowouts; 6. Increase deformation of the tire body, causing sidewall cracks and flexing movements, leading to overheating, rubber aging, accelerated shoulder wear, and shortened tire lifespan.

[LePeyton]

As a veteran driver with 20 years of experience, I know all too well the feeling of underinflated tires. The most obvious symptom is the steering wheel becoming heavy and unresponsive, making turns feel like dragging sandbags. Fuel consumption spikes noticeably - last summer when my tire pressure was just 0.3 bar low, it burned an extra liter per 100 kilometers. What's more frightening is the accelerated tire wear and deformation, significantly increasing the risk of sidewall bulges or even blowouts when driving at high speeds due to rising tire temperature. The ride becomes noticeably bumpier too - going over speed bumps makes the entire chassis shake. I've developed the habit of checking tire pressure monthly with a portable gauge, because safety is no joke - a single tire blowout could ruin an entire family trip.

[SanRuth]

I usually drive around the city, and recently I noticed the steering becoming increasingly heavy. After inspection, I found that both rear tires were severely underinflated. The low tire pressure increased the contact area of the tires, not only causing fuel consumption to spike by 15%, but also leading to sawtooth-like abnormal wear on both sides of the tires. The mechanic said that continuing to drive like this for a few more months would completely ruin the entire set of tires. What's more annoying is that the car always pulls to one side, and every turn feels sluggish. When parking, the steering wheel doesn't return to the center properly. Now, I check the tire pressure every time I wash the car, maintaining the standard value of 2.4 bar. This saves fuel and hassle, and extends the tire lifespan by at least two years.

[StRose]

I just encountered this issue last week. Insufficient pressure in the right front tire caused the car to noticeably pull to the right, requiring constant steering corrections on the highway. During the repair, the mechanic removed the tire and had me feel it – an underinflated tire heats up exceptionally fast, with the tread becoming soft and deformed, almost exposing the inner steel belt layer. He explained that driving with low tire pressure increases energy consumption due to greater tire deformation, likening it to the effort of running in slippers. Now, before every long trip, I use the onboard air pump to check all tires, understanding that tires are the only components in contact with the road – safety is not something to take lightly.