From indoor pools to chilled beverages and strong air-conditioning systems, there are plenty of ways to cool yourself down during the hot summer days in the UAE where temperatures could climb up to 50˚C or more. The problem is, such high temperatures don’t just affect the humans but also the objects that remain out in the sun for extended periods of time. One such object is your car tire which could become a serious liability during the summers if not cared for properly.
Tire bursts have caused several accidents in the past not just in the UAE but all over the world. As one of the top tire brands, Continental considers itself responsible to educate drivers about the risks of driving with weak tires and how to keep them in a good shape to avoid any mishaps.
Top Reasons For Tire Burst
In order to avoid a burst, one must understand the reasons why it could happen. Here are the top reasons that could lead to such a misfortune and how to avoid them.
Low Air Pressure
It’s important to understand that your tire doesn’t just revolve on the road under a moving vehicle, but it also flexes upon each revolution due to the external pressure. This phenomenon builds up heat inside the tire. The absence of required air pressure only allows the tire to flex more than it normally would, resulting in a greater rise in the temperature inside the tire. Combine that with the extremely hot asphalt concrete and your tire doesn’t stand a chance.
Check out your tires’ pressure at least twice a month during summers to make sure they remain in good shape. Even if your tires survive a few journeys with low pressure, it’s only a matter of time before they give out no matter how new they are.
Overloading
There is only enough weight a tire can carry. Most manufacturers define the weight limit on their pamphlets and it’s never a good idea to push that limit. Imagine losing control of your vehicle due to a tire burst while carrying tons of weight on it.
Besides, you might end up spending twice the money you are going to save by carrying the extra weight on your vehicle’s maintenance.
Try to distribute the weight evenly across the loading area to avoid putting too much load on one tire.
Bumpy Roads
Although the road conditions in the UAE are remarkably good and it’s very less likely that you would run into a pothole, you still might want to look out for sudden bumps at high speeds. There are several components that hold the tire together. A sudden blow at a high speed would compromise the integrity of the tire, leaving it vulnerable to a blowout. The higher speed you are at, the greater damage it would cause to your tire.
If by any chance your tire collides with something at high speed, get it inspected by an expert before your next trip.
The Tires’ Physical Condition
The universal rule to determine a tire’s health is from its tread depth. You are legally allowed to use a tire till it reaches the minimum tread depth limit of 1.6 mm after which not only is it a criminal offence to use a tire but it could also cause a tire to burst at any moment.
Be a responsible driver and check your tire’s tread depth every now and then. Inspect for any cracks or bulges which are also an indicator for a weak tire.