Q. Is it bad to drive on overinflated tires? What could happen?

A. Over-inflated tires reduce handling, ride and stability. They can also wear faster in the middle, so you’ll end up having to fork over big bucks to get them replaced sooner than you would with properly inflated tires.

When you over-inflate your tires, they’re literally bulging. The center part of the tire tread is pushed out by the pressure. It’s shaped more like a doughnut than a tire, which means you have less tread touching the road. Less tread means less grip. Some may say that reduced surface area may reduce rolling resistance, but tests have proven that this theory does not hold up on the road. You lose more in damage to your tires than you gain in reduced rolling resistance.

When tires are over-inflated, the tire is also harder and more firm, which means a rougher ride. Overly hard tires can’t absorb little imperfections in the road, so the riders (and driver) feel each and every one. Imagine riding a bike with wooden tires instead of rubber.

The deformation of the tire also leads to premature wear. The car’s weight isn’t properly distributed on the tire, so the part of the tread that’s hitting the road is going to wear faster than it normally would with properly inflated tires.

Do yourself and your tires a favor and follow the inflation recommendations marked on your tire. Embrace the PSI! Keep following our newsletter for more answers from the 3Birds Template service technicians.