Residents of Our Apartments for Rent in Gainesville, FL Can Prevent Blowouts by Checking Their Tires’ Pressure Regularly
Having a car tire blowout can be an expensive and time-consuming problem, and unfortunately it’s also a common one. Blowouts can be caused by a wide variety of issues, but one of the most common is improper tire pressure. Even though modern tires are far less prone to blowouts than they have been historically, drivers would be wise to regularly check the pressure in their tires, especially before long trips, to minimize the risk of a blowout.
While it’s natural to assume that an overinflated tire is more prone to blowing out, it’s actually more likely to occur with an underinflated tire. Underinflated tires bend more than properly inflated and overinflated tires, which causes increased contract with the roadway. The friction between an underinflated tire and the road can cause far more heat to build up, which separates the layers of fabric, rubber, and steel that make up the tire, causing weak spots where blowouts occur. It’s important to remember that overinflated tires can still blow out when friction causes the gas to expand beyond the limits of the tire.
Tire pressure testing devices are available at nearly every auto parts store and many filling attachments will have a monitor included to give a readout of tire pressure. Most car tires will have a maximum pressure written on the side in several different measurements, normally atmospheres (atm), kilopascals (KPa), bar (bar), and pounds per square inch (psi). Be sure you know what units are used in your testing and filling devices so you can accurately fill the tires to the proper level. Also be sure to check whether the measurement is for a “cold” tire, which is at the ambient temperature, or a “hot” tire which has been driven on for a while. “Cold” tire pressure will be lower than “hot” tire pressure since the gas will not have expanded due to friction with the road.
It’s a smart idea to check tire pressure at least once per week, but there are many times when it’s smart to check more often. As temperatures rise and fall, tire pressure can vary significantly as the air inside expands and contracts, so whenever there is a drastic weather shift, it makes sense to perform a pressure check. The same goes for changing elevations, as less external pressure in high mountains can cause higher internal tire pressure than being near sea level at Bellamay Grand’s apartments for rent in Gainesville, FL. Many modern cars also include a tire pressure indicator, which can signal when tire pressure has fallen below a safe threshold.
At Bellamay Grand, we hope that any of our residents who regularly drive will take this advice to keep their vehicles and tires in optimal working order. For more information about our community, contact us today.
