Can It Be Too Hot for Tires?
June 15, 2023
As summer ramps up and the temperatures rise, you know its not a good idea to go outside without shoes or you risk burning the bottoms of your feet on the asphalt. If the street can get too hot for your feet, can it get too hot for your tires, too? Here's what you need to know about how your tires handle the heat.
How Hot Do Tires Get on the Road?
Typically, a half-hour of driving on a highway triggers the car tire temperature to soar about 50 degrees Fahrenheit compared with the outside temperature. So, if it's 75 degrees outdoors, a tire generally would reach 125 degrees after traveling on a highway for 30 minutes.
Not surprisingly, a tire gets hotter if the outside temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit vs. 35 degrees Fahrenheit. If your car is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), you may be warned when the tire temperature exceeds a certain point, such as 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Much Heat Can Tires Withstand?
Some experts believe 195 degrees Fahrenheit is the cutoff point for the maximum tire temperature. Beyond that, a tire might be unable to withstand the heat. However, the chances of your tires meeting this temperature are slim. Regarding heat, your main concern usually isn't the temperature but tire pressure.
When the outside temperature rises, tire pressure rises along with it. Tire pressure increases about one pound per square inch (psi) for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature climbs. Therefore, if your tire's psi reading was a typical 35 in the spring, it could easily jump to 45 on a scorching hot day. A psi reading of 45 might cause a tire to blowout. At the very least, an overinflated tire may lead to braking problems and early treadwear.
When a tire goes down the road, the normal "flexing" of the tire's sidewalls generates heat. If the tire's air pressure is sufficient to bear the weight of the car and its contents, then this heat shouldn't be an issue. But if the air pressure is too high, the extra heat could contribute to the tire breaking down and "blowing out." Check the owner's manual for your car to determine the recommended PSI for your tires. Typically, a psi of 32 to 35 is recommended for cold tires.
How to Help Prevent Heat From Causing a Tire Blowout
A tire blowout can do more than damage a tire. It also can make it more difficult to brake or steer a car. To avoid a tire blowout in hot weather, follow these five recommendations.
- Monitor the tire pressure. Maintaining proper tire pressure is an essential part of tire maintenance. It's important to keep a close eye on tire pressure when the temperature is high and to adjust the tire pressure accordingly.
- Check the pressure at the right time. Keep in mind that you should check tire pressure when the tires are cool (three hours or more after parking). Friction and heat can lead to a spike in a tire's temperature and, thus, its air pressure.
- Inspect your tires. Before heading down the road, examine your tires for any problems, such as overinflation or underinflation. If you notice something you can't fix on your own, like a puncture, head to the nearest Nissan service center.
- Get ahead of tire problems. If you spot some problems with your tires, fix them before getting in the driver's seat. For instance, if the tread looks like it's seen better days, you might want to visit the Nissan Parts & Accessories website and shop for new OEM tires
- Consider regular stops. If you're venturing out on a long road trip, be sure to give yourself and your tires a break. You might want to schedule a roadside stop every two hours or so to let your tires cool off. Another way to look at it: If you're driving through a place where it's hot, you might want to check the psi every 75 miles if you're worried about the tires overinflating.
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