Something we can all agree upon is Korea's harsh and hot summer season. During this season, our daily-used vehicles face severe conditions, including heated roads, typhoons, and the long rainy monsoon season, which can lead to much tire damage. Therefore, it's essential to double-check your vehicle's tire pressure to ensure that it stands at just the perfect level to ensure safe driving during the unpredictable summer. Many say that tire pressure should be higher than the average level during the summer. However, checking for just the proper air tire pressure can be confusing and uncertain for some. So, we're here to let you in on a couple of reasons and tips that could assist you to be confident in confidently checking for the proper pressure for your tires.
Understanding Tire Pressure
The proper tire pressure amount is based on which type of tire your vehicle utilizes. To effectively figure out the appropriate air pressure level needed, you must first find the specific number on the tire's outer face side. For instance, if the indicated number shows 'MAX.PRESS.300kPa(44psi)', the highest air pressure level number you could utilize is 300kPa(44psi). Most tire pressure levels are generally estimated to stand around 80%, making it possible for 44psi tire users to regulate their tire pressure levels to about 36psi. Maintaining pressure numbers at a reasonable level is usually best because, in most cases, having lower tire pressure levels can cause several risks and dangers. Excessive tire pressure levels can cause a degradation in tire performance due to partial wear. In contrast, low tire pressure can reduce car fuel efficiency, braking power, and even severe tire damage.
Tire Pressure Levels During the Summer Season
According to Hyundai Marine and Fire Insurance's Institute of Transportation and Climate Environmental Research, tire blowout accident cases are more likely to increase in over 30℃ (86°F) weather due to the 'standing wave phenomenon’. This refers to when heat is accumulated within the ground of the tire during high-speed traveling, resulting in deformation and then eventually rupture. These 'standing waves' can commonly occur through over-heating roads due to sweltering weather, doubling road temperatures. These accidents can also quickly happen while traveling over 80km/h (50mph); therefore, for us to be able to avoid these sorts of accidents, checking and raising tire pressure to about 10% higher than the average numbers are recommended and will make an excellent safety impact.
Tips on How to Self-Check Tire Pressure
Tire pressure can usually be quickly and visually checked with your bare eyes. Once aligning your vehicle's tires in one straight line on a flat road surface, check for any dents on the tires, starting from the front two tires. If the tire seems visibly collapsed, the tire pressure is more than half low. However, merely checking only with one's eyes has its limits, so to make a more thorough examination, using a pressure meter is recommended. Other measuring tools such as bar pressure gauges, digital pressure gauges, and electronic pressure gauges are also perfectly usable.
During the summer periodic checks of your tire pressure are essential to reducing the chance of accidents. Before going on your next vacation this summer, check your tire pressures and ensure better and safer driving for you, your family, and your surrounding community.
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