Hot weather and long motorway trips are a classic recipe for a summer blowout. Heat raises the pressure and temperature inside the tyre, and any existing weakness, low tread, old rubber, under-inflation or a hidden cut, is far more likely to let go. A few summer checks keep your tyres safe when they're working hardest.
Why heat is hard on tyres
As tyres warm, the air inside expands and pressure climbs. Combine that with high speeds, a heavily loaded holiday car and hot tarmac, and a marginal tyre can overheat until the structure fails. Older, perished tyres are especially vulnerable, because the rubber has already lost flexibility. It's why summer sees a spike in roadside blowouts, and why the tyres that fail are almost always ones that were already worn, old or under-inflated before the hot weather arrived.
Summer tyre checklist
Run through this before any long, hot drive:
- Check pressures cold against the recommended figure, and don't over-inflate to "allow for heat".
- Inspect for cracks, bulges and embedded objects before you set off.
- Mind the load. A fully loaded holiday car may need the higher "laden" pressure, so check your handbook.
- Check the spare, as it's often the oldest, most neglected tyre on the car.
Tyre-safety charity TyreSafe is clear that under-inflation is the leading cause of heat-related failures, so correct pressure is the single best summer precaution.
On a long drive
Take regular breaks, which let the tyres cool and let you spot problems early. If a tyre looks low or feels odd, stop and check rather than pushing on into the heat. A common mistake is to check pressures after an hour of motorway driving and find them "high", then let air out, which leaves the tyres dangerously low once they cool. Always set pressures cold and leave them alone when hot. And know what to do in a blowout before you ever need to, because the right reaction is counter-intuitive.
Caravans, trailers and loaded cars
Summer is towing and holiday season, which adds extra demands exactly when it's hottest. A fully loaded car needs the laden pressure, not the everyday figure, or the tyres will be effectively under-inflated for the weight. Caravan and trailer tyres deserve special attention, because they usually fail on age rather than mileage and may have sat unused all winter. Before a big summer tow, check the age, condition and pressures of every tyre on the outfit, including the spare, since a towing tyre failure can cause dangerous snaking at speed.
Pre-trip tyre check at home
Heading off on a summer trip? We'll check and, if needed, replace tyres at your home before you leave, anywhere across the UK, so you set off on rubber you can trust. Book a check.
