Safety Tips in the Summer Heat: Keeping Your Tires Cool

Consumer Reports: Summer Heat and Tire Safety

Summer is definitely here with record breaking heat across much of the county.  In Arizona, the heat can be blistering for your tires and dangerous.  According to Conusmer Reports, "Hot weather exacerbates heat build-up and weakens the tire, potentially leading to abrupt and sometime catastrophic failure. On a hot 90-degree day at our track, surface temperatures easily exceed 150-degrees. Think about what your tires are experiencing while you're enjoying the drive in a cool air-conditioned car."  With temperatures currently above that in most of Arizona, there are some important tips that can keep your tires cooler and you and your passengers safer.

"For example, just having your tires properly inflated will go a long way to avoiding such failures. Tire pressure is the life-blood of any tire; An under-inflated tire generates more heat due to excessive sidewall flexing, adversely effecting handling and fuel economy. Also, the tires will wear out faster.  The key here is using the correct inflation pressure. Based on our experience and a number of industry surveys, most tires are not inflated correctly. Those that are under-inflated are typically the result of no or infrequent pressure checks. However, some consumers go the other way when they over-inflate their tires using the sidewall rating—that's the maximum pressure and the not service pressure as defined by the vehicle manufacturer, which is typically listed on a driver's door jamb placard."

Important tips from Consumer Reports:

• Inflate the tires to the recommended setting outlined on the tire information placard found most often on the driver's door jamb and/or the vehicle owner's manual.
• Check the tires monthly. Tires will typically lose up to 1 psi per month, and pressure drops about 1 psi for every 10-degree drop in air temperature.
• Buy a good tire gauge. It's also a good idea to buy a portable compressor that works off of your car's power outlet; these are available in many auto parts stores. 
• Tires also lose air to common punctures, so if you find you're always adding air to one particular tire, it might have a slow leak. Have it checked out at a service garage.

Source:http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/08/tips-to-keep-your-car-tires-cool-amid-damaging-summer-heat.html

Remembering to keep and eye on your tires while enjoying the summer heat can help avoid blowouts and improve your millage.  At FooteWork, we are looking out for you!  Fast, Friendly, FooteWork!