Learn how tire pressure influences the tire and road interaction, and how it impacts your vehicle's traction, handling, braking, and wear. Find out how to check and maintain optimal tire pressure.

Insufficiently inflated tires can’t properly absorb road imperfections. Hitting bumps or inconsistencies causes the tire to bounce rather than dampen vibrations. This causes shaking that travels through the wheels and steering components. Vibration is most pronounced when braking, especially high speed braking. The changing momentum amplifies the shaking sensation. If your vehicle shimmies when braking, low tire pressure could be the culprit. Since the tread serves as the point of contact between the tire and the road surface, its writhing reduces the tire’s stability and traction. Tires with low air pressure respond more slowly and clumsily to inputs from the steering wheel and your car needs more room to brake itself.

Last updated on Aug 18, 2024

How does tire pressure affect road safety?

Tire pressure is one of the most important factors that affect the performance, safety, and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. But how does it influence the way your tires interact with the road, and what are the risks of having too high or too low tire pressure? In this article, you will learn about the basics of tire and road interaction, the effects of tire pressure on traction, handling, braking, and wear, and how to check and maintain the optimal tire pressure for your vehicle.

1 Tire and road interaction

Tires are designed to provide a contact patch between your vehicle and the road surface, which enables you to accelerate, steer, and brake. The shape, size, and distribution of the contact patch depend on the tire pressure, load, speed, and road condition. Ideally, you want a contact patch that maximizes the friction force between the tire and the road, which depends on the coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction is a measure of how much the tire and the road resist sliding against each other, and it varies according to the type, texture, temperature, and wetness of the road.

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Bob Pierce S.

Semi-Trailer Sales & Rentals Truck Equipment Upfitter
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In general, friction between the tire and the road surface, and hence the safety of driving, can be increased by lowering vehicle speeds, increasing the tire pressure, and keeping the tire wear level below 50%. Where the level of tire wear itself can be correlated with the vehicle’s mileage in the case of a regular car. Among other factors directly influencing tire friction are the tire design, the degree of wear and pressure level, the aspect ratio of the contact patch, and the speed of the transport itself affect the ability to successfully drive a vehicle. For example, aircraft tire pressure is significantly higher than a regular car tire pressure due to a difference in operating speeds.

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BAHAMI ALi

Grutier a CAM chez Chantiers et ateliers du Maroc (CAM)
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C'est bahami ali je suie un gruiter professionnel avec cacees délivré par afce france jai aussi cacees de charyou elevateure et permis classe b c EC je suie polyvalent merci

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Molly Cherry

Student at The University of Memphis
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It keeps the vehicle at homeostasis as far as same tire pressures in all four tires. It also gives someone peace of mind while they are driving 80mph, they will not worry about their tire blowing off the rim. Good tires are essential for road safety and maintenance on your vehicle. Your health depends upon it.

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Justice Amidu Konkor

Professional Driver/Logistician/Security Management/Safety Advocate
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Properly inflated tires ensure optimal contact with the road, which improves traction and handling. Underinflated tires reduce the contact area, leading to poor grip, especially in wet or slippery conditions, which can increase the risk of skidding or hydroplaning. Overinflated tires, on the other hand, reduce the tire's contact area with the road, leading to less traction and stability.

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2 Effects of tire pressure on traction

Traction is the ability of your tires to grip the road and transmit the driving force from the engine to the wheels. Tire pressure affects traction by changing the shape and size of the contact patch. If the tire pressure is too high, the contact patch becomes smaller and more rounded, which reduces the friction force and increases the chances of slipping or skidding. If the tire pressure is too low, the contact patch becomes larger and flatter, which increases the friction force but also causes more heat buildup and deformation of the tire, which can lead to blowouts or tire failure.

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Preston Trager

Stay outside✖️bay area✖️engineering
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Especially talking about performance cars, it is important to keep PSI in that sweet spot, even the temperature and pressure outside can change factors which can result in the tires not being optimized for the roads they are on.

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Bob Pierce S.

Semi-Trailer Sales & Rentals Truck Equipment Upfitter
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Tire pressure may seem like a little thing, and maybe even something you don’t have time to deal with but it really does have a significant effect on your vehicle's performance and safety. Underinflated tires can blow out while driving at higher speeds. The sidewalls of tires with low air pressure flex more often, making their interior hotter. Driving with low tire pressure increases the fuel consumed by your car. Low air pressure makes the tires softer and less capable of rolling. The engine needs to work harder to rotate soft tires so it burns more fuel to produce more power. Tires with insufficient air pressure have shorter service lives. Low tire pressure warps the tire’s footprint, making its inner and outer shoulders wear out faster.

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Justice Amidu Konkor

Professional Driver/Logistician/Security Management/Safety Advocate
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Tires with incorrect pressure can lead to longer braking distances. Underinflated tires tend to flex more, leading to less effective braking. Overinflated tires can cause uneven wear, reducing the tire’s ability to grip the road properly during sudden stops.

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3 Effects of tire pressure on handling

Handling is the ability of your vehicle to respond to your steering inputs and maintain stability and control. Tire pressure affects handling by changing the stiffness and responsiveness of the tire. If the tire pressure is too high, the tire becomes stiffer and less flexible, which makes it harder to absorb road shocks and bumps, and more prone to bouncing and losing contact with the road. This can result in a harsher ride, reduced cornering ability, and increased steering effort. If the tire pressure is too low, the tire becomes softer and more sluggish, which makes it harder to respond to steering changes and maintain a proper alignment. This can result in a sluggish ride, reduced steering accuracy, and increased rolling resistance.

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Bob Pierce S.

Semi-Trailer Sales & Rentals Truck Equipment Upfitter
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Insufficiently inflated tires can’t properly absorb road imperfections. Hitting bumps or inconsistencies causes the tire to bounce rather than dampen vibrations. This causes shaking that travels through the wheels and steering components. Vibration is most pronounced when braking, especially high speed braking. The changing momentum amplifies the shaking sensation. If your vehicle shimmies when braking, low tire pressure could be the culprit. Since the tread serves as the point of contact between the tire and the road surface, its writhing reduces the tire’s stability and traction. Tires with low air pressure respond more slowly and clumsily to inputs from the steering wheel and your car needs more room to brake itself.

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4 Effects of tire pressure on braking

Braking is the ability of your vehicle to stop or slow down safely and effectively. Tire pressure affects braking by changing the amount and distribution of the contact patch. If the tire pressure is too high, the contact patch becomes smaller and more concentrated in the center of the tire, which reduces the braking force and increases the stopping distance. If the tire pressure is too low, the contact patch becomes larger and more spread out over the edges of the tire, which increases the braking force but also causes more wear and tear on the tire and the brake system.

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5 Effects of tire pressure on wear

Wear is the gradual deterioration of your tires due to friction, heat, and stress. Tire pressure affects wear by changing the amount and distribution of the contact patch. If the tire pressure is too high, the contact patch becomes smaller and more concentrated in the center of the tire, which causes more wear and tear on the tread and the sidewall, and reduces the tire life. If the tire pressure is too low, the contact patch becomes larger and more spread out over the edges of the tire, which causes more wear and tear on the shoulder and the sidewall, and reduces the tire life.

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6 How to check and maintain tire pressure

To ensure optimal tire pressure, you should check your tires regularly, preferably once a month or before a long trip. You can use a tire pressure gauge to measure the air pressure in your tires, and compare it with the recommended pressure for your vehicle, which is usually found on a sticker inside the driver's door, the glove box, or the owner's manual. You should check the tire pressure when the tires are cold, meaning they have not been driven for at least three hours or more than a mile. You should also inspect your tires for any signs of damage, such as cuts, cracks, bulges, or punctures, and replace them if necessary. You should also rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to ensure even wear and extend their life span.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How does tire pressure affect road safety?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Tire and road interaction

2 Effects of tire pressure on traction

3 Effects of tire pressure on handling

4 Effects of tire pressure on braking

5 Effects of tire pressure on wear

6 How to check and maintain tire pressure

7 Here’s what else to consider

Automotive Design

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How does tire pressure affect road safety?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Tire and road interaction

2 Effects of tire pressure on traction

3 Effects of tire pressure on handling

4 Effects of tire pressure on braking

5 Effects of tire pressure on wear

6 How to check and maintain tire pressure

7 Here’s what else to consider

Automotive Design

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