Many people are just too busy going about their everyday life to worry about the state of their car tyres. They may give their tyres a cursory glance before they set off each morning but may not be in the habit of checking the tyre pressures on a regular basis. Even though those tyres may "look" as if they are correctly inflated, the answer may be very different and comes with several dangers. What can go wrong in this situation, and why should you carve out some of your time to pay more attention?

Signs of Underinflation

Unless a tyre is significantly underinflated, it may appear from a distance to be "okay." In fact, it'll have to be almost empty of any air before you notice that tell-tale spread on the bottom, where the weight of the vehicle is pushing down on the rubber.

Signs of a Problem 

Unfortunately, underinflation can cause the tyre to overheat, especially if you are driving for a prolonged period on a motorway. This can lead to some handling difficulties as the footprint of the tyre is altered. You'll find that its characteristics may change, so the vehicle wanders from side to side, and you may find it more difficult to take corners. You may also notice that you spend more at the pump as those underinflated tyres are giving you a lot more rolling resistance. The engine has to work harder to achieve the same goal, which will inevitably increase your fuel consumption.

Degrees of Underinflation

When things get past a certain point, and the tyre is fully underinflated, you'll certainly notice a strange sound emanating from that wheel well. You'll have no choice but to stop and change the tyre at that point but don't underestimate the problems you may face before it gets that bad.

Keeping an Eye on the System

Some vehicles are fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system. If you're lucky to have that on your vehicle, it will invariably alert you should the pressure be too low. If you don't have that type of system, though, you should check your tyres regularly based on the amount of driving you do.

When Matters Get Worse

In the worst-case scenario, an underinflated tyre could overheat to such a point that it will blow. Clearly, this would be very dangerous if you're driving at speed. In any case, the tyre is likely to wear down far more quickly than it would as the amount of rubber in contact with the road is not where it should be for the overall design.

What Happens Next

On closer inspection, you may notice that your tyres are badly worn due to underinflation. In this case, you may have no choice but to get a new one and should talk with your tyre supplier to get more advice.