Common Reasons Why Car Tyres Lose Pressure
Tyres are essential components of cars as they are the only part making contact with the road. From improved fuel economy to better handling, tyres play a significant role in the car’s performance. However, underinflated tyres can have many drawbacks, such as tyre bursts, improper handling, trouble while taking turns or low fuel efficiency.
Several reasons account for car tyres losing pressure frequently. It may occur due to damaged tyres, weather conditions or worn-out wheels. Let’s go through the conditions when car tyres lose pressure more often.
WHY DO CAR TYRES LOSE PRESSURE?
Car tyres lose pressure due to several reasons. It is of utmost importance that the drivers find the solution to the common tyre problems resulting in pressure loss. Speaking of tyre pressure, properly inflated tyres provide better fuel efficiency, load-carrying capacity, and passengers’ safety and increase the tyres’ lifespan.
Here are all the reasons car tyres lose pressure frequently and their possible fixes.
Damaged Wheel
The wheel or rim can lose its perfectly round shape due to corrosion or an accident. The tyres won’t place properly due to corroded, damaged or bent rims. Meanwhile, if the wheel bends due to an accident or hitting any surface, the tyres will vibrate and cause tyre bead damage, resulting in pressure loss.
However, you can take professional mechanics’ help to repair wheel damage if you don’t have the related expertise.
Bad Tyre Valve Stem
When the tyre valve stem completes its lifespan or gets corroded, it will cause car tyres to lose pressure. It will be one of the main reasons your car tyres lose air pressure as it will allow air to escape slowly through the damaged valve stem. You can ask for the mechanics’ help to replace the bad tyre valve stem.
Nail in Tyres
A single nail won’t make your tyres flat. However, nails in tyres can damage them enough that they will start losing pressure. It is among the common car problems that need instant attention as it can damage tyres in the long run.
You can plug the leaky tyre temporarily after removing the nail. However, if the tyre is damaged such that it won’t work with a plugin, you will need to change the car tyres with new ones. Or else, the car tyres will lose pressure frequently- resulting in improper handling and affecting the ride quality. Moreover, a nail can become one of the reasons a brand new tyre losing air pressure.
Damaged Tyre Beads
Tyre beads are the inner circles or edges of the tyres. When these edges are damaged, the car tyres lose pressure slowly. That said, the function of tyre beads is to place tyres tightly to the rims.
However, once they are damaged, they do not place tightly, allowing the air to leak through the gap between the tyres and rims.
Temperature Conditions
Temperature conditions also play a significant role in keeping the tyre pressure. For instance, the air pressure inside the tyres tends to reduce in colder temperatures as the air inside contracts.
Moreover, car tyres lose pressure by around 4% when the temperature falls below or above 5 degrees centigrade. For that reason, it is always recommended to check the tyre pressure regularly
Due to Potholes and Curbs
Potholes and curbs can cause damage to the tyre treads and grooves. Besides, they can cause a cut as well. In this case, car tyres lose pressure if there is a small cut or it will blow out. It is one of the major reasons to avoid potholes.
How to Maintain Car Tyre Pressure
Maintaining car tyre pressure isn’t that difficult. While there are several reasons behind car tyre pressure loss, drivers can always avoid it by scheduling maintenance timely. Here are a few ways to maintain car tyre pressure:
- Avoid the potholes and curbs as tyres may blow out or damage
- Check that the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is working properly
- Regularly check that the valve stem is tight enough to lose pressure
- Check for small punctures, nails, cuts or tyre bead damage as it may be the reason behind car tyres losing pressure
Alongside these regular tyre maintenance and checks, you can check different types of tyre tread patterns and equip the tyres with the tread patterns that match your driving conditions.
The above reasons contribute to the car tyres losing pressure. For that reason, when you buy a used car in the UAE, always ensure to perform regular maintenance checks. That said, it will help maintain the tyres’ health.
Regardless of the driving conditions, always ensure that you don’t drive with faulty tire pressure sensors as it may lead to safety concerns.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blog to learn more about car problems and how you can fix them.