How do temperature extremes affect a car’s tires?

When you drive, you probably give little or no thought to the tires on the vehicles with which you share the road. Still, when tires fail, they often cause catastrophic accidents. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 700 fatal tire-caused accidents in the U.S. in 2020 alone.

As a responsible motorist, you always pay close attention to the condition of your tires. Other motorists, however, are not so conscientious. Alarmingly, temperature extremes can cause otherwise good tires to fail.

Extreme heat

When it comes to temperature, extreme heat is any tire’s top enemy. This is because heat can cause tires to warp, stretch, degrade and blow out. Additionally, excessive temperatures can increase tire air pressure, causing heat-associated weak spots to fail.

Extreme cold

Even though your chances of encountering a dangerous tire are higher in the summertime, they do not go away during the wintertime months. Indeed, cold weather can cause tire air pressure to drop considerably. Underinflated tires perform differently than properly inflated ones. If a driver does not compensate for the performance difference, he or she may lose control.

Your safety strategy

To stay safe behind the wheel, you always should account for temperature extremes. Simply replacing your car’s tires when you notice visible signs of damage goes a long way to keeping you safe. Nevertheless, you have no control over how other drivers choose to act.

If another car has a tire emergency, you may suffer life-altering injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Ultimately, pursuing financial compensation from the driver ensures you can afford the medical care you need to recover completely.