Car Wheel. Concept design. 3D render.
Having a flat tyre is not a good thing, especially if you are in the middle of nowhere or are experiencing back-to-back flat tyres. There are different reasons for having a flat tyre, and one of them is not using good-quality tyres. Always invest in high-quality tyres from renowned brands such as Hankook tyres Bedford.
In this blog post, we are going to discuss the reasons you might get flat tyres more frequently. We also talk about how you can prevent flat tyres. If you are interested in knowing more about flat tyres then keep reading.
5 Causes of Getting Flat Tyres on My Car
Your Tyre Age
Over time, the rubber in your tyres will degrade, even if you don’t use them. This is why you should also check your spare tyre regularly. Just like unopened perishables in the refrigerator, old tyres can look brand new but still lack the quality and reliability compared to recently produced tyres. This is the reason why many tyre manufacturers recommend you replace the tyres after 6 to 10 years, even if they were never been used.
When the rubber in tyres starts to degrade because of age, exposure to the elements or a mixture of both, it may result in a crack. Most of the time, cracks in your tyre rubber can be hard to find and repair, leading to slow leaks, recurring flats and even blowouts.
Dry Rot
Not just the age of the tyre, but other reasons can cause cracks in your tyres. Dry rot wreaks havoc on the integrity of your tyre’s sidewall. But you may wonder: what is tyre dry rot. Tyre dry rot is a term that explains tyre brittleness caused by natural rubber deterioration.
Not like dry rot in trees or wood, this type of decay isn’t caused by bacteria or fungi. Tyre dry rot can occur when either the age of the tyre or exposure to certain conditions harmed a tyre’s rubber compounds, leaving the tyre dried out and vulnerable to flaking and cracks. There are different things that can cause dry rot, including:
- Excessive UV damage from sunlight
- Low tyre pressure
- Exposure to corrosive chemicals
- Extreme temperatures
- Extended periods of disuse
With a regular inspection and proper tyre care, you can prevent dry rot. If you plan on leaving your car parked for a long period of time, ensure to gauge your tyre pressure at least once a month and inflate when necessary. Ensure your tyres don’t get exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. You can use tyre covers or car covers or park in a covered garage to avoid direct sun exposure.
If you notice any signs of dry rot in your tyres such as cobweb-like cracks along your tyre sidewall or chunks of rubber hanging off the tyre reach out to your nearest tyre specialist to get them checked. The technicians will inspect your tyres, let you know what the problem is and recommend either a service or replacement option, depending on the problem.
Faulty Valve Stem
You replace your old tyre with a new one, and just a few miles down the road, your newly changed tyre is flat too. If you have already checked that the tyre tread does not have leaks or punctures and the sidewalls are okay, you might have a faulty valve stem.
The valve stem is a part of the wheel that helps control tyre air pressure. Valve stems are collected from several different parts, including a valve stem core and valve stem cap. The core lets air in and out of the tyre while the cap keeps debris out of the core. Most of the vehicles manufactured after 2008, have tyre pressure monitoring systems which is integrated with the valve stem.
Overtime valve stems and their parts can be worn out, due to age, heat, moisture, road salt and even UV rays. Valve stems that are damaged in any of the ways can cause leaks, leading to low tyre pressure and recurring flats. Driving with underinflated or flat tyres can cause poor handling, increased fuel consumption and premature tread wear.
Leaky Tyre Bead
Just like a faulty valve stem, a leaky tyre bead can be a cause if you keep getting a flat tyre. Tyre bead leaks are also known as bead-seat surface leaks, rim leaks or wheel leaks. The tyre bead is the rubber edge where your tyre fits into the rim or wheel.
Tyre beads are made of metal-reinforced rubber materials designed to attach the wheel in a way that ensures an airtight seal and stops the tyre from spinning on the rims. Sometimes rim leaks can occur due to incorrect installation of tyres, which is the reason we recommend replacing your flat tyre with a mechanic.
Faulty TPMS
If all of these reasons are not for your flat tyres then there is a high chance your tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is the reason you have noticed your car’s recurring flats.
Your vehicle TPMS has sensors which are designed to warn you if the tyre pressure is below a certain level. When your car tyres Bedford are underinflated, the TPMS shows dashboard warning lights that look like an exclamation mark inside an open circle.
