Why Tyres Go Flat: 10 Causes of Tyre Deflation
Published:
April 15, 2022

Whether it’s because you got a bit overzealous when inflating your tyres, or you experienced an untimely puncture on the motorway, tyres become deflated for all manner of reasons. Keep reading to find out the ten main causes of tyre deflation.

1. Wear

Over time, your tyres are guaranteed to wear down. Once this wear and tear reaches a certain point, your tyres are in danger of ripping – something which will inevitably lead to deflation if the rip develops far enough.

2. Delamination

Tyre delamination is the process by which a tyre separates into its various components parts due to wear, heat, improper inflation or a combination of those things. Eventually, the separation reaches a point where air is able to escape and deflation occurs.

One of the scariest aspects of tyre delamination is that it will lead to blowouts, and these blowouts can often occur whilst out on the motorway, which can be extremely dangerous for you and the motorists around you.

If you’re concerned about tyre delamination, take a look at our article about tyre delamination.

3. Overinflation

While this sounds paradoxical, overinflating your tyres can indeed lead to deflation. This is because overinflating your tyres increases their pressure to dangerous levels, which can lead to a blowout.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that overinflating your tyres can cause you to lose your grip on the road, which, again, is extremely dangerous.

If you’re driving on a hot day, you need to really be careful about the way you inflate your tyres beforehand. This is because hot weather, coupled with the heat generated from road friction, can cause the air within the tyres to expand, leading to overinflation and, in unfortunate circumstances, blowouts. Find out more about how heat affects your tyres.

4. Underinflation

Improperly inflated tyres are an issue, too. This is because they can become unseated from the rim of the wheel and leak air. However, having your tyres re-seated shouldn’t be too much of an issue in the hands of a professional.

Another problem with underinflated tyres is that you can end up having too much of the tyre tread in contact with the road. This can make steering extremely difficult and also damage your fuel economy.

5. Punctures

Whether on your driveway due to a renegade nail, or out on a motorway over a patch broken glass, punctures can occur anywhere. And, more often that not, this will lead to the deflation of your tyres.

Why Tyres Go Flat: 10 Causes of Tyre Deflation

6. Leaking valves

The valve stem is the small, cylindrical protrusion which needs unscrewing in order to inflate your tyres. If this becomes corroded or damaged, the valve will leak air slowly, leading to the deflation of your tyres.

7. Hitting the kerb

Any sort of heavy impact on your tyres can cause serious problems, whether it’s just a rip or something structural. Always check your tyres after a knock – you never know, they may have become punctured.

8. Vandalism

While uncommon, it’s fairly simple for vandals to let the air out of your tyres. If your tyres have become deflated but there’s no visible damage to the tyre itself, this could well be the source of the problem.

9. Weather

Extreme weather can cause wear and tear to just about anything, and tyres are no exception. The main problem: heat. While us Brits don’t have to worry too much, extremely high temperatures can cause the air inside your tyres to expand, thus increasing the pressure. When the air expands beyond the limits of the tyre wall, the rubber gives out and the tyre deflates.

10. Tyre bead leaks

Sometimes, air will leak from the tyre bead, that is, the rim of the tyre. This leak can cause the tyre to become flat over time. To check if there’s a problem with the tyre bead, spray your wheels and valve system with soapy water. If a steady stream of tiny bubbles emerges, you probably have a tyre bead leak.

In order to fix this problem, you are going to have to go to the garage to get it sorted. Bear in mind that this problem is most common on older tyres that haven’t been maintained properly, so always inspect your tyres carefully when you get a chance.

If you have noticed any abnormalities with respect to your tyres’ inflation, this could be a sign of a serious problem – and acting fast is important. Call the experts here at Tyres Northampton to get your tyres back on track today. We offer the best tyres-while-you-wait service in the region, with free hot and cold drinks, customer wifi, tv, xbox and child’s play area. On top of that, our qualified technicians can offer additional services such as wheel alignment, brakes and exhausts. If you would like to know more about what we do, please get in touch with us today.

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Why Tyres Go Flat: 10 Causes of Tyre Deflation
Why Tyres Go Flat: 10 Causes of Tyre Deflation
Why Tyres Go Flat: 10 Causes of Tyre Deflation