Hot pavement can pose a threat to your tires. In fact, contact with a hot road surface can add a whole new level of heat to your tires, which are already conducting heat due to rolling resistance. So what can you do? Let’s discuss hot pavement, how it affects tires, and what to do to avoid tire damage.
How hot pavement affects tires
We’ve all heard stories about people who have been able to cook an egg on a hot sidewalk. The truth is, the heat that pavement can generate is more fact than fiction. This surface can get extremely hot. In fact, many dog owners don’t want their dogs walking on hot pavement because it can blister and hurt their paws. Well, tires are not immune to the effects of this heat either, and without diligence, can incur expensive damage.
Year-round, as tires roll on the road, they create what’s called rolling resistance. This is the level of friction that a vehicle produces as the tires transport the vehicle. Some tires produce more rolling resistance than others. Ideally, you want tires with the lowest rolling resistance because they’re more fuel-efficient.
As with all substances, friction creates heat. And tires build plenty of friction driving at high speeds. The tires then heat and that natural heat becomes paired with searing pavement in hot summer weather. The result? You can start to see expensive tire damage.
Signs of heat-related tire damage
Ideally, the best-case scenario is to prevent tire damage altogether, but second to that is to know the signs of tire damage, so you can take the right steps to fix the problem and prevent further damage.
When looking for heat-related tire damage, look for the following problems:
- High tire pressure or overinflation
- Reduced handling capabilities and traction
- Poor fuel efficiency
- Interior tire damage
Cool down tips for hot pavement tires
Of course, you still need to drive in the summer. In fact, most people probably drive more often once the warm weather hits, excited to take on adventures without the risk of ice and snow. The additional opportunities to take vacations and go for summer road trips are aplenty, and you deserve to travel safely on these much needed breaks. Stay safe driving in the heat with these tire safety tips.
- Replace your tires
Whether that means getting a new set of tires, replacing the worn ones you have, or taking your all-season tires out of storage and switching out your winter tires, it’s important to replace your tires promptly.
Get high-quality tires designed for hot weather, paying special attention to the tire specs to get a set that matches your vehicle, driving habits, and local weather conditions. When switching out your tires for different seasons, make sure to rotate them to ensure they’re wearing evenly and that tread depth is adequate.
- Gauge tire pressure
In severe heat, tire pressure can fluctuate drastically. The key is to check tire pressure when your tires are cool (such as before driving) to ensure that you’re starting with the correct PSI level. This will allow the tire to flex and mold to the road the way it’s designed to.
- Avoid heat and UV exposure
You can’t put sunscreen on your car or your tires but there are other tire safety tips to protect tires from heat and UV rays. Park in the shade or a cool spot, use a car cover and give your tires a break if you notice your vehicle’s temperature is rising.
- Inspect your tires regularly
Don’t forget a quick inspection every so often. Check for bulging, sagging, puncture marks, scrapes, lodged debris, and tread depth. It just takes a minute to check your tires, so do it as often as possible. Many issues can be subtle or occur at a moment’s notice. Even a quick drive to the grocery store could have caused a nail to get lodged in a tire.
- Respect weight limits
Every vehicle/tire has a weight limit: the amount of weight it can safely transport. In the summer we tend to load boats, bikes, families, luggage, camping gear, and more onto a vehicle without considering how much the tires are meant to carry. Too much weight will overload the tires, overheat them, and put them at increased risk of popping.
Replacement tires from Sailun
Sailun offers the market’s best tires for passenger vehicles and quality commercial truck tires too. If this summer is your time to replace your tires, get a new set that will last a long time, save money, and stay cool in the heat: shop Sailun Tires. There are hundreds of dealers throughout the U.S. to shop at so no matter where you are, there are Sailun tires nearby to equip your vehicle for years to come.