Most drivers think that their tire pressure doesn’t seem as urgent as other forms of regular servicing. So they do not check it frequently until they face unexpected losses to cars and personal safety.
You wonder what if you drive on an overinflated tire by 5 psi? Is it dangerous? The short answer is yes.
And this article today explains clearly everything you should know about inflation pressure and gives you the solutions to fix it if you accidentally add too much air pressure in tires. Let’s put our geeky glasses on, scroll down and read until the end!
What Are The Types Of Tire Pressure?
Properly Inflated Tire
Your air pressure is computed in pounds per square inch (psi). It expresses in different levels depending on what vehicle you currently have. The proper tire inflation of most cars ranges between 32 and 35 psi.
It is given based on cold inflation pressure. So don’t deflate your tires while they are hot since that will actually result in them being underinflated.
You might not know this; the inflation pressure drops by 1 to 2 psi for every 10 degrees fluctuation in air temperature.
So it’s best to check and inflate your tire in the evening or three hours after driving for the most accurate reading.
What are the benefits of correct tire inflation? Your tire wears more evenly, and then it will last longer. The reason is that the load stress will be uniformly distributed over its contact patch and create minimal friction with the road.
It keeps the heat buildup, rolling resistance, and cushion impacts at governable status.
Overinflated Tire
You feel like you are bounced around on the road like a ball? No doubt, your tire appears to be overinflated. The compacted air inside presses on tire walls and makes it very rigid.
What tire pressure is too high? As pointed out above, over-inflating a tire means it overcomes the recommended psi. That diminishes the patch contact between tires and the road.
Although it can help drivers boost steering and cornering response or carry heavier loads without collapsing, it can lead your tires to wear out faster and cut down the ability to grasp the road in the long run.
What’s more, it’s very dangerous when running over potholes or several road hazards.
Underinflated Tire
Sidewall cracks? Weird flapping noises? Poor handling? Vibrations? Your tire is underinflated.
A tire that isn’t filled will be softer than normal. Lacking its structural stability doesn’t maintain its shape.
So it increases the friction between the rubber and the road. That is why large amounts of air resistance are created.
That forces your car to work much harder to balance and uphold your desired speeds. Its tread can not support the full weight of your vehicle as effectively as normal. And a tire surface itself is more easily riddled by the sharp edge of a pothole.
Be careful; sometimes driving with low tire pressure is more high-risk than high tire pressure. Tire failure, blowout, or even rollovers are a few to name.
Why Shouldn’t You Drive On An Overinflated Tire By 5 Psi?
Tire Exploding
A variety of issues occur if you drive under tire pressure too high. But a tire burst is most serious and becomes the driver’s nightmare. As mentioned above, the proper air pressure is around 32-35 psi.
When your tire encounters potholes, it can cut or tear its structural components, and the compressed air into the tire gets away. That causes a loud boom.
Risks? You can lose control of your vehicle. That jeopardizes yourself and others, especially on the highway or in remote areas.
Also, driving on overinflated tires by 3 psi or 5 psi could compromise your car’s driver assistance features, particularly an anti-lock braking system.
It would help if you kept in mind some tips for handling a tire blowout before leaving for a long trip so that you would know what to do at the moment before you are rescued.
No worries! The rescuers know how to tow a rear wheel drive car and protect it from damage during transit. All you have to do is calm yourself down.
Weak Grip And Braking
Overinflating tires can radically reduce the contact patch between the tire and the road. So the braking performance is weak if you drive when the road surface is wet and slippery. You can encounter a hazardous problem called hydroplaning.
Specifically, the car will lose traction when a layer of water puts up between the road surface and your wheel.
That is very dangerous because it prevents your driver from responding to control inputs. Then an accident is unavoidable sooner or later.
Uneven Tread Wear
In fact, only the middle portion of overinflated tire contact with the road surface. If you take a close look, you can see that its center tread wears much quicker than the outside edges. So you must replace a new tire earlier than expected.
Harming The Front Suspension
Do you believe that an over-inflated tire can damage front suspension over time? If a tire is pumped with proper air, not only it can absorb bumps and potholes efficiently, but it also lowers extra strain for the vehicle’s suspension.
But over-inflating? For sure, it bounces more frequently like a ball, especially in bad road conditions.
Thus, it constantly transfers shock straight to the front suspension. That part gets weaker in the long run, forcing you to buy a new replacement.
Bumpy Ride
You can undoubtedly get a rough, jarring, and unforgiving ride if you encounter the encumbrance above.
That is certainly the clearest challenge for all drivers during their journey. Losing friction, poor handling capacity: they are life-threatening.
How To Repair An Overinflated Tire?
Tire pressure too high what to do? What does repairing an overinflated tire mean?
You must release air from tires until you get the recommended air pressure. A digital tire pressure gauge will be a good aide to determining the psi your tire currently has.
You can do it on your own. But if you don’t know how to attach it onto the valve, take these detailed steps below:
Step 1: Pinpoint the valve stem, which is covered by a 1–2 inches long black cap approaching from the rim.
Step 2: Take off the valve cap.
Step 3: Mount your gauge onto the valve. Don’t forget to set it in properly; firmly press the fitting straight onto the valve and tighten it.
Step 4: Press the release valve, discharge air little by little once a gauge hits the recommended psi. The result displays in different ways depending on the gauges you have.
Step 5: Put your valve cap back on and screw it up tightly.
Tips:
Always bear in mind to check the air pressure when it’s cold, in the morning or evening, at least three hours after driving.
One more thing is that air can escape through the valve stem. Thus, don’t check the internal pressure more than once.
No digital gauge available? Go to a tire repair shop, self-serve car wash, or gas station, and your overinflated tires will be resolved in a flash.
How To Prevent And Deal With Over-Inflating A Tire?
Can tire pressure be too high? Yes, of course, as indicated above. But many people don’t know how to prevent and deal with it.
I think that you should give a regular check, about at least twice per month, before your tire gets worn or deformed. And never put too much tire pressure on your tires.
Accidentally add high tire pressure into tires? Temporarily deal with it. Avoid contacting rocks, nails, potholes, glass as much as possible; otherwise, your tire will blow out.
Remember to rotate tires frequently to detect potential endangerment on them early.
Or if you found that your tire is not equal, you should learn how to balance tires at home to keep them from wobbling or hopping up and down on the next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Is Psi Overinflated?
Recently, I have received many questions about how much tire pressure is too much. It’s overinflated when your tire exceeds 5 psi compared to the recommended psi. This way, it’s easy to be damaged by contact with potholes or debris on the road.
Is 40 Psi Too Much For Tires?
Bear in mind that the correct internal pressure for most passenger cars is about 32-35 psi. If your psi is 40, it might be excessive.
Still, it’s essential to check your vehicle’s manual for more specific instructions. And it would be best if you considered checking the cold inflation pressure to ensure the best results.
Is 50 Psi Too High For Tires?
It’s known that most tires are made to pump no less than 20 psi and no more than 50 psi. That means 50 psi does not overcome the allowed maximum pressure.
Will A Tire Blow Out If You Stab It?
I think it is very unlikely to make a tire explode by stabbing it. It’s just deflating.
Conclusion
Inflating tires may seem like a mundane task. However, that is much more important to your car than you think. Not all drivers know the risks of pumping air into tires incorrectly.
It’s very dangerous whether you drive on an overinflated tire by 5 psi or under-inflated tire. Thus, never forget to check its air pressure regularly, at least twice a month.
That is a simple but effective method to help extend your tire life, provide a safe ride, and conserve fuel economy.
If you feel that you can’t do this task well, leave it to the professionals. They will help you determine how much psi is too much for a tire and provide the solutions.
Today’s tires especially being low profile will normally leak air about 1 psi per month. The typical recommended pressure is 35psi and tire pressure monitors trigger at 30 psi. This means that the average driver inflates their tires to 35psi were the tread has even (flat) across contact pressure. From that point on they are driving underinflated until the TPMS triggers at 30psi. And your tires will wear out on the edges first. The better approach is to inflate your tires to 38psi (+3psi over) so the AVERAGE psi over 5-6 months will be 35psi. 38psi at first, in 3 months 35psi, in another 3 months 32psi. Even if you wait until the TPMS to trigger you’re tire wear will be more even. And unevenly worn tire safety is never talked about. Also the contact patch is not entirely accurate – the tread is not lifted from the road, there’s just less pressure at that location.