Your vehicle’s only contact point with the road is the tire. Therefore, the primary point of your safety, while driving totally depends on the health of your tire. There are several reasons for tire damage that can occur prematurely. Tire damage is not just an expensive affair, but it also adds to the dangers of driving. One of the common tire damage problems is the showing of wire. Many people ignore the same and continue using the same tire.
Should we drive on a tire showing wires?
Driving with the tire wire showing can prove to be a very risky condition. The condition becomes more of a hassle especially when you are considering a longer drive. The tire is at a vulnerable position and can lose pressure at any moment.
You can put yourself into a life-threatening situation if you don’t cater to such tire damage. But to address this problem, it is necessary to know about this problem in detail.
Reasons behind tire damage and wire showing
It is not always the internal factors that have a negative effect on the tire’s health, it can be external influences as well. It can be due to reckless driving, damaged roads, driving over obstacles, and any other such activities.
External damages have also been associated with a showing of wires in the tire. These damages can be avoided by taking some extra care and watching out for your driving ways. A few of the causes of external damages have been discussed below.
Damage due to fitting
You don’t always have to be on the road due to cause some tire damage. It can happen in an unused situation as well. The primary reason for the same is an incorrect mounting of the tire in the rim.
The use of a tire lifting machine can cause the bead to get damaged even before the mount is complete. In case of more severe damage, one can see the bead getting cut and crushed down to a limit where the tier wire shows.
This damage can be avoided by taking due care while mounting tires. The rim, as well as the shoulder of the tire, should be lubricated enough before fitting. These fitting inaccuracies can become the cause of tire damage in the later stages of usage.
Breaking of bead wires
Tubeless tires usually have a circumferential hump at one of their rim shoulders. The purpose of this hump is to make sure that the bead is stable and firmly set on the rim. After mounting, the tire is inflated to the recommended level.
During this inflation, there is a possibility that the bead gets caught up in the hump.
This can result in an expansion of the bead with over-inflation of the tire, causing the wires to break off and get exposed. These exposed wires can be shown on the surface of the tire. Drivers often ignore it and carry on with driving.
Driving for a longer time with wires showing can be highly risky for the driver, these wires reduce the contact of the car with the road. It also damages the treading on the tire surface. As mentioned earlier, treading is highly important for the safety of the driver as well as the passengers.
Damage to treading due to wires showing from the tire can result in the reduction of friction between the tire and the road. This will result in slipping of the car on road, especially during high speeds.
In case, you are noticing wire damage, the only safe way to move forward with it is to get a change of tires. You might be able to patch the wire damage to make it work for a short duration, but in the longer run, you might be putting your life in danger.
Risks and Mitigation of Tire Wire Showing
Showing of tire wire is a sign of worn our tire that either needs to be replaced or fixed. There can be a lot of risks associated with the same that can put the driver’s life at risk.
An exposed wire can cause the tire to lose pressure during the drive. You will either have to stop midway, or you will be forced to stop due to a tire burst.
You can also be at a risk of losing control over a speeding car on a rainy day. The wire reduces the friction the tire maintains with the road and makes it easier for the car to glide through instead coming to an immediate halt.
Is It Due To The Road Or The Car?
The problem of tire wire is mostly associated with the issues of the car more than the road. Due to a disturbed alignment of the wheel, one shoulder faces more pressure than the other and the tire gets damaged. Fixing the tire alignment can prevent any further damage an incurring of additional costs.
Can the tire be reused?
It is advisable not to use the tire in such a condition. There is way too many risk associated with it which is not worth saving the money for. However, if the damage is not a lot and restricted to only one place, you can consider driving at a speed of 50 kmph in a dry road condition.
Taking care of the tire
If you are a car fanatic, or if you simply own a car, it is necessary to be aware of all the practices of maintaining the tire’s health. Tires are a very essential component of the car.
They are not just an appendage that helps the car roll on the ground. This is a solid-body part that ensures the safety of the car.
Tires are the most used parts of the car and are subject to the maximum wear and tear a car can face. It is therefore advisable to be very cautious about your car tire’s health.
Regular Checks for Tire Health
Get a proper check done whenever you observe something odd in the movement of the car. Scan your car’s tires for spotting any damages to the treading. Noticing any change in treading is the easiest way of checking for any damage.
Check both the shoulders of the tire regularly as well. It is difficult to figure out an alignment issue. But the same can easily be determined by checking the treading on the shoulders of the car.
If you find anyone side of the shoulder facing a stronger impact than the other, you can be sure that there is an alignment issue. Get it fixed immediately.
Maintain Right Inflation Pressure
Maintaining a proper inflation pressure is also a must for proper tire health. You cannot keep the inflation pressure too high or too low. It is not just damaging for the car and your personal safety; it is also economically expensive.
With inappropriate pressure, your car will be subjected to stronger external damage due to increased flexing. Make a routine to check the tire pressure on a fortnightly basis. If you feel the pressure has gone below the desired level, get a refill.
Gain Knowledge about Tire Pressure
Make yourself well-equipped with the knowledge of tire pressure. Read the information provided by the manufacturer. Be aware of the load pressure on your vehicle to ensure a proper pressure requirement.
Last but not the least, get your tires checked regularly to keep an eye on any minor damages. These damages might sound small, like a leaky rim, but they can considerably affect the longevity of your car’s tire.