Tire Pressure in Winter Weather – How to Stay Safe

‘Tis the season of holiday cheer, time spent with family, presents, and flat tires. It’s a reality many drivers are all too familiar with. Once the December temperatures set it, there is a high chance of going one morning to your car and noticing your wheels have lost some of their pressure.

But why does this happen? And, more importantly, how can you prevent it and stay safe?

The Main Reason Is the Cold

Tires regularly lose some pressure over time, but that’s just something that comes with the territory. However, cold weather causes the air inside the tires to contract, which means the air molecules don’t move like they are used to. These molecules start hitting against the walls of the tire, eventually seeping out, which causes the drop in pressure and the flat tire.

Unfortunately, there’s not really a way you can avoid this unless you find a way to prevent a natural process of taking its course. What you can do, however, is increase safety at this time.

What can you do?

You should be checking your tire pressure routinely, as sometimes the tires may appear fine when you look at them, but the pressure levels may be off. In the colder days, it’s best to check your tires at least a few times a month, maybe even more during a particularly cold period.

Additionally, you may also want to invest in a tire pressure monitorization system unless you have a newer car model that already has one. Most models made after 2007 are equipped with this system, but older models usually aren’t, so you need to be more careful with older vehicles.

If you notice your tires have lost some pressure, all you generally need to do is substitute the amount of air that’s been lost, and you are good to go.

Don’t Risk It

If your light goes off and signals you have low pressure in your tires, it’s best to address this issue right away. Pullover the vehicle when it’s safe to do it, and add some more air.

Low tire pressure means too much of the surface area is touching the road, which causes a lot of friction. This leads to the tires becoming overheated, and maybe even a blowout in extreme cases or lead to tire damage. It’s a guaranteed recipe for disaster, so make sure your tires are properly inflated before you get behind the wheel, especially during the winter.

Have You Been Involved in an Accident?

Underinflated tires can cause an array of safety problems, and possibly even a car accident. If you’ve been the victim of such an event, you may be eligible for compensation. Reach out to a St. Louis car accident lawyer for a free consultation and find out what you need to do to get compensated for all your damages.