What Causes Flat Tires?

The majority of drivers will have, and have probably already experienced, the turmoil of a flat tire at some point in their “driving careers.” If you have ever found yourself in the unfortunate situation where you’ve noticed your vehicle’s tire has gone flat, you’re already familiar with the gut-sinking sensation of dread and the frustration of having your day turned up on its head.

It tends to be that blowouts often happen in poor weather or late at night, and also when it’s the most inconvenient possible time for a flat tire to happen. Not only are they frustrating, but they can seriously jeopardize your safety and the safety of your passengers. While flat tires are difficult to prevent, being aware of how to maintain your tires and knowing what causes them may help to reduce your risk of a flat tire reoccurring.

From Excalibur’s experience, here are some of the most common causes of flat tires.

Punctures

Sharp objects can quickly bring properly inflated, otherwise healthy tires to a standstill. Often, back roads or private roads (and even public, highly populated roads!) can be cluttered with debris like screws, nails, and even sharp rocks. These are hard to see and even harder to avoid while driving, but your best bet to avoid a sudden puncture is to simply avoid roads that look to be in bad shape. Avoid going over rough terrain and make sure you slow down when you go past potholes to reduce the risk of damage to your tires.

Temperature fluctuations or extreme weather

Your tires can be impacted by shifts in temperature. If there’s a 10 degree or more drop in temperature, you might see fluctuations of 1 pound per square inch of the inflation of your tire. Extreme weather, on either end, can cause over or under inflation of your tire. If the pressure within your tire increases beyond its capacity, you’ll likely see a flat tire or leakage.

To avoid this, it’s important to monitor your tire pressure as often as possible. Every tire brand will have a different range for what constitutes as a healthy tire pressure, and some vehicles have monitoring systems you can assess from the interior of your cabin.

General wear

As you drive more and more and your tires are continually used, you might notice they’ll start to wear. The tread becomes shallower, and they’ll lose their natural elasticity. Each tire brand wears down at different rates; it also depends on your driving habits and your actual vehicle.

You can prevent this issue (to an extent) by rotating your tires. Swap out the positions from the front to back and vice versa. This aids in the overall performance of your vehicle and can even out the wear, ensuring your tires can last even longer. You should try to rotate every 5,000 to 8,000 km. Each time you go for an oil change, get your tires rotated as well.

Tire bead leaks

This isn’t very common, but sometimes as tires age, air will begin to leak from the bead (which is the edge of the tire that rests upon the rim. If the leak worsens, the tire may become flat with time. Always check your tires before any long trip or regularly to ensure their health. If you suspect an issue with your tire bead, spray your wheels/valve system with soapy water. If you notice a stream of tiny bubbles, you likely have an issue with a tire bead leak.

Vandalism

This is not a common cause of flat tires, but it can certainly happen – and it’s no fun when it does. If you live in a high crime area or nearby a university, your odds of having your tires vandalized is that much higher. Sometimes, it’s when someone lets the air out of your tires and doesn’t call for the need of a replacement. Just reinflate the tire and be more cautious in the future of where you park your car.

A slashed tire is a different matter. This can be a dangerous situation for yourself and others on the road. Always check your tires for any damages, such as marks, scuffs, uneven wear, etc.

Over-pumped tires

We can’t stress enough how important it is to check the pressure of your tires regularly. Overinflated tires are just as dangerous as underinflated tires. Learn how to properly check the pressure of your tires and avoid a dangerous pressure situation which, when left unchecked, could result in a blowout.

Does auto insurance cover tire damage?

It depends on why the damage happened. Comprehensive coverage, an optional enhancement to an existing policy which covers non-collision damages, may include coverage for tires if they are stolen or slashed by vandals. Collision coverage may cover damages to your tires if they are damaged from a pothole or in an accident with another vehicle/object. General maintenance, however? Wear-and-tear? That will never be covered because you, as the vehicle’s owner, are expected to do your due diligence and look after your vehicle as well as you possibly can.

Remember that insurance is designed for unexpected, unanticipated events. If you don’t look after your vehicle and your tires need replacing because of your lack of care, you’ll be expected to cover these costs out of pocket. Your insurance will cover your tires for covered perils ultimately, but remember that the worst thing about flat tires is that they can leave you stranded on the side of the road – for which you would need roadside assistance. Ask your Excalibur Defender about purchasing additional roadside assistance coverage and/or if your current policy can cover tire damages.