Too much air in your tyres can be just as risky as too little. In this guide, we explain the dangers of overinflated tyres, how to recognise the warning signs, and the simple steps to fix or prevent them. Stay safe, protect your tyres, and enjoy a smoother, more stable drive.
One of the big focuses of tyre maintenance is making sure that tyres are not underinflated, and that if the tyre suffers a puncture, then you are able to fix or replace it to avoid the dangers of underinflation.
But what happens if a tyre has an excess of air in it and is considered overinflated? Is overinflation dangerous in tyres - and what should you do to, first, ensure it doesn’t happen, and second, to fix it if it does?
What is an Overinflated Tyre?
An overinflated tyre is exactly as it sounds – a tyre with too much air in it.
While it is not always possible to visually see when a tyre is overinflated, you can usually feel it on the road. Overinflated tyres present a more uncomfortable ride, as the excess of air means that tyres respond to every bump and hole in the road surface. What’s more, you will find that the centre of the tyre wears more quickly as the outer edges do not meet the road surface as much.
But it’s not all about the comfort and rate of wear…
Dangers of an Overinflated Tyre / Tyres
If your tyres are overinflated, not only are you letting yourself in for a bumpy ride, but you will also find yourself facing several hazards.
These include:
- A reduction in stability and control of the vehicle
- Low suspension as the tyre is stiffer and so more likely to become damaged by holes and debris on the road surface
- Tyres become worn more quickly, meaning you lose friction on the road surface at a faster rate
- They are more likely to suffer a blowout or puncture
Suffice to say, driving on overinflated tyres leaves you at a much higher risk of damaged tyres. This is both expensive to deal with and impacts your safety on the road exponentially.
How to Avoid Overinflated Tyres
With all that in mind, how can you avoid overinflated tyres?
It all comes down to being able to interpret the tyre pressure chart, convert the readings correctly, and set a tyre pressure gauge properly.
The gauge is designed to cap the amount of air that’s pumped into tyres, according to the figure that you enter. So, the way to avoid overinflation is to enter the right amount and take steps to remove some air pressure if you find that tyres are overinflated.
NOTE: If you add some extra pressure to tyres due to vehicle weight when towing or carrying a large load, don’t forget to remove that pressure when the task is complete to avoid issues of overinflation.
