Do Tires Deflate in Cold Weather? The Full Guide

If you live in a colder climate, it’s bad enough that you need to brave the ice and snow to do the things you need to get done. But on top of that, you have to be weary of your tires deflating too!

Tires deflate in cold weather due to the air inside the tire cooling and therefore lowering the tires pressure.

Fortunately, our team has plenty of experience dealing with tire deflation and we’ve put together a guide to help you protect your tires and how to watch out for the times when tires deflate in cold weather.

Will tires deflate in cold weather?

When the ambient air temperature drops in the winter, the air contracts because of a decrease in molecular activity. With colder air, the number of molecules in motion reduces, leading to a decrease in air pressure exerted on the tire walls. This causes the tires to appear deflated or flat.

This means that the air inside your tires becomes more dense as the temperature drops, and the tire will lose pressure and appear deflated or flat.

If you live in an area with cold winters, it’s important to check your tire pressure regularly and inflate them if necessary. You can do this at home with a tire pressure gauge, or you can take your car to a nearby gas station or auto shop.

How much will tires deflate in cold weather?

Tire pressure tends to drop about one PSI (pound per square inch) for every ten degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature falls. So, if it’s 20 degrees outside and your tire pressure is at 30 PSI, it will drop to about 25 PSI when it gets cold.

This may not seem like a lot, but it can make a big difference in how your car handles on the road. It’s especially important to keep an eye on your tire pressure if you live in an area with extreme temperature changes, like the desert or the mountains.

Do I need to inflate my tires when it’s cold?

If you live in an area with cold winters, it’s a good idea to check your tire pressure regularly and inflate them if necessary.

What will low pressure do to my tires?

If your tires are low on air, they will be less able to grip the road and you may have difficulty steering or stopping. You may also experience poorer fuel economy and your tires lifespan may also decrease.

In extreme cases, low tire pressure can cause your tires to freeze to the ground. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on your tire pressure and inflate them if necessary.

Should you overinflated your tires in cold weather?

While you may think this could be a clever way to counter the deflating that can happen when it’s cold, the reality is this can be very dangerous. Overinflated tires can burst at high speeds, which could cause you to lose control of your car.

As you drive on your tires, the friction that they experience with the road creates heat and warms up the tires. This will also mean that driving on your tires will actually slightly increase your tire pressure.

This is why we do not advise over inflating your tires. This is even more dangerous in cold weather because the roads are often slick and icy.

Tips for keeping your tires inflated when it’s cold outside

There are a few things you can do to help keep your tires inflated in the cold weather.

1. First, make sure you check your tire pressure regularly and inflate them if necessary.
2. Second, consider investing in a set of winter tires. Winter tires are designed for colder temperatures, and will provide better traction on icy roads.
3. Finally, keep your car in a garage or carport if possible. This will help protect your tires from the cold and prevent them from deflating.

How to check tire pressure?

Here is a quick guide on how to check the pressure in your tires:

• First, find the tire pressure rating. This is usually located on the driver’s side doorjamb or in the owner’s manual.
• Next, use a tire pressure gauge to measure the air pressure in your tires.
• Finally, compare the reading on the tire pressure gauge to the tire pressure rating. If your tires are low, inflate them to the recommended pressure.

What to do now

Hopefully now you’re up to speed on how to protect your tires in the cold. If you need more information about tire pressure and how to deal with pressure issues, be sure to check out our guides.

We hope you enjoyed this article and found it informative. If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email or through social media and we will read and respond to every comment, email or question. Thanks for reading!