You are probably aware of the sinking feeling you get when you see your car with a flat tire. A roadside emergency like a tire blowout that occurs in inclement weather or on a deserted road is more than an inconvenience. It can often create a dangerous situation that can seriously jeopardize the driver’s safety and their passengers. You may or may not get a hold of your roadside assistance services provider, especially if it is late at night.
Sharp objects penetrating through the tire’s surface or low air pressure are some common reasons as to why you might have a flat tire. Although there is no sure way to prevent a flat tire situation, performing general tire maintenance tasks and being aware of any underlying causes can help minimize the likelihood. Taking your car to an auto repair shop for regular servicing can help detect potential issues and help avoid inconvenience.
Read this blog to find out about some of the most common causes of a flat tire.
Puncture By Sharp Object
A puncture due to a sharp object, such as a nail or shattered glass, is one of the most common causes of a flat tire. Your vehicle’s tire will leak air from the lodged nail or glass, resulting in a flat tire within a short time. To avoid tire blowouts, you should drive around any potholes or debris in the road and parking lots whenever possible.
Valve Stem Damage
Another common cause of a flat tire is valve stem failure or damage. The valve stem is a small piece that protrudes from your vehicle’s tire that is unscrewed when inflating it. Any damage or corrosion done to the valve stem will result in air leaking out of the tire until it’s completely flat. Dirt-clogged or loose stems, as well as leaks in the tire bead, can also cause a flat tire.
Road Hazards
Bad road conditions such as potholes, uneven or damaged roads, unexpected debris, and construction zones can wreak havoc on your car tires. These road hazards can be difficult to notice while driving, making your tires, axles, and undercarriage susceptible to damage. These terrible road conditions put your wheels at higher risk of getting damaged. A flat tire can lead to serious road accidents, especially if you are speeding on a busy roadway.
Temperature Change
Temperature variations cause an increase or decrease in the air pressure of your car’s tire slowly. This is because air shrinks when cooled and expands when heated. For instance, your tire is more likely to go flat as it loses about 2 percent of its air with every minus 12-degree Celsius drop and vice versa.
During the sultry summer months, there is a higher chance of your tire bursting due to high temperatures expanding the air and building the tire’s inward weight. This causes the tire to lose air pressure and eventually become flat. Therefore, you must keep the air pressure of your vehicle’s tires in check with the varying temperatures.
Low Pressure
Another reason for a flat car tire is its low air pressure, creating flat tires that might otherwise be just fine. Your tires require regular refiling to maintain its structural integrity. If you choose not to inflate your tires for extended periods or don’t get a puncture fixed quickly, you risk causing a blowout.
Driving with low air pressure in your cars’ tires means a wider range of your tire’s surface area will hit the ground. It can weaken your tires wearing out your sidewall, making you more vulnerable to tire flattening.
Over-inflation
Over-inflation can lead to sudden flat tires as it creates undue pressure on your cars’ tire. The tires’ footprint can shrink in size when the tire is overinflated. Therefore, as a preemptive measure, it is crucial to ensure the maximum limit of air inflation of your tires to avoid a flat tire.
Maintaining proper tire inflation is important for preventing heat buildup and flatness. It also positively affects your fuel consumption by a significant amount and improves your tire’s service life.
You must take your car to an auto shop for regular servicing so that any potential issues with its tires can be detected and fixed. Ignoring signs of low air pressure can put you in a tough situation, such as a flat tire, which can compromise your safety, especially if you are traveling alone at night. However, if you find yourself in a flat tire situation, contact your nearest roadside assistance provider for help.
At Car Towing Melbourne, we take pride in offering automobile towing and roadside assistance services within Melbourne and surrounding areas. Contact us for more information about our services.
Now Car Towing Melbourne is available in Lalor Victoria 3075, Australia.
Car Towing Melbourne
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