The Brazilian summer usually brings intense movement on the roads. Between school holidays, end-of-year trips and trips to beaches and tourist destinations, the flow of vehicles is growing at temperatures that often exceed 35ºC. In this scenario, a decisive point for safety, and still underestimated by most drivers, is the behavior of the tires.
They significantly alter internal pressure, influence stability, affect and may even increase premature wear. To understand how heat directly interferes with this dynamic and what precautions should be taken before , the report heard Jack Bala, customizer and preparer of old cars with updated mechanics.
With practical experience in adapting classic vehicles to run in modern conditions, he closely monitors how summer changes the behavior of tires and warns: correctness is not just a matter of comfort, but of safety.
Heat increases tire pressure and changes are quick
The increase in temperature in and in the air causes the air inside the tire to expand. This is a basic physical principle, but in the summer the process intensifies. Jack explains that “high temperatures increase the internal pressure of the tires, also increasing their inflation.” This means that even one correctly in the morning can reach pressures above the recommended level after a few minutes of running in the strong sun.
This increase directly affects drivability. According to the expert, the tendency is for the car to become harder, transmit more vibrations and respond less comfortably to irregularities on the track. For many drivers, this sensation is interpreted as “normal” when traveling, but it could be the first sign of excess pressure.
Risk of overflow
The topic raises concern, especially on long trips, but the car preparer clarifies that the risk of it is not as frequent as one might think. “Although the risk is small, the increase in temperature can increase the internal pressure of the tire, which in rare cases can cause it to burst”, he states.
The most common problem, in practice, is the loss of stability caused by an overinflated tire. High pressure reduces the area of contact with the ground, impairs braking, increases vibrations and can generate a feeling of instability when cornering. Even without an explosion, safety and comfort are compromised.
Why always calibrate with cold tires
It is recommended, at any time of year, to calibrate your tires when they are still cold, and in summer this becomes even more important. “The tires must be inflated cold, taking into account that the pressure will increase as the car is driven”, he advises.
When inflating with a hot tire, the driver gets an artificially high reading. When the tire cools, the pressure drops and may be below the recommended level. In practice, this means that the vehicle can leave the workshop apparently with the correct calibration, but, when parked a few hours later, it is running with insufficient pressure.
On the other hand, calibrating hot without considering thermal expansion can lead to the opposite problem: “When calibrating hot, this heating must also be taken into account, as the pressure can rise above the recommended level, causing the tire to harden due to excess pressure”, he says.
Signs that the tire is overinflated due to heat
The symptoms are noticeable, and the specialist recommends attention. “The car is very hard and the suspension ‘punches’, causing discomfort when driving”, says Jack. This behavior indicates that the tire has exceeded its ideal pressure, reducing its impact absorption capacity and transferring greater effort than normal to the suspension.
Jack reinforces that it is essential to check the pressure whenever there is any doubt. “The correct thing to do is to check the calibration if in doubt.” He also clarifies that, more than excess temperature, the challenge lies in excess pressure: “In fact, the excess is pressure. The ride becomes hard and uncomfortable, making it necessary to check the calibration on specific equipment.”
Tire too inflated or too underinflated? Both are dangerous
Incorrect calibration, whether upward or downward, compromises safety. “Tires that are too inflated, as well as too deflated, pose risks when driving. The ideal is to drive with the tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer”, he highlights.
Overinflated tires reduce grip, impair braking and make the car more unstable. Deflated tires, in turn, suffer greater deformation, heat up more quickly and can, in extreme cases, come off the wheel.
In both scenarios, fuel consumption also increases, as the car needs to compensate for the tire’s lack of efficiency.
On long trips, checks must be constant
Most of the latest models have pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), which inform the condition of the tires in real time. For those who do not have this technology, the recommendation is: “The ideal is to check the calibration whenever you have doubts about the tire pressure.”
I.e, Any change in the vehicle’s behavior must be treated as a warning.
