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Leith Cars Blog

PSA: Have You Got Old Tires? Beware the Summer Heat.

Old Tires

The summer heat has arrived, and although it’s great for road trips, it’s not great for your car. By August, we’ll be seeing temperatures over 100 degrees here in North Carolina, and that’s got us thinking about safety. Car safety, specifically.

Anytime it gets extremely hot or cold, cars don’t tend to fare so well. This is the time of year where dashboards start to crack, side view mirrors come unglued, and people find themselves on the side of the road with an over-heated car (pro-tip: if your car overheats, don’t try and open the hood until it cools down).

But here’s something you may have never heard: tires can be a real danger when the temperatures start to soar. If they’re cracked, worn down, or just plain old, you might need a new set.

new tires

Here’s why

When your tires roll across the pavement, they create friction. This generates heat, which causes the tires to expand. When the pavement is exposed to normal circumstances that’s not an issue. But when temperatures start to soar, the hot asphalt can exacerbate any issues that your tire may already have (like those we listed earlier).

And that’s because the temperature of asphalt can be anywhere from 10° to 40° degrees hotter than the air temperature. So if it’s 100° outside, the pavement could be 110° or even 140°. That’s really hard on your tires – especially at highway speeds.

old tires

Why it matters

If you have old tires and they blow while driving, a few things could happen. At best, you’ll be going slow and your tire will be intact enough to navigate away from danger without damaging the car or yourself. At worst, a tire could blow at 70mph or higher, and you may lose control of the vehicle. The rest of the scenario we’re sure you can imagine.

We’re not trying to scare you, just prepare you. The heat is hard on cars in many ways, but the tires are especially important. If you feel like you may need a new set of tires, don’t hesitate. They’re a good investment in the health of your car, yourself, and your passengers.