What happens when a tire becomes low on pressure? We know that a
combustion engine produces power and energy through the ignition of the
fuel, and the energy is transferred all the way through the
tires. When tires are lower on pressure, more of the surface area
of the tire is in contact with the ground. The tire is no longer as
circular as it should be, and the tire is being deformed where
it's in contact with the ground. Moving the tire when it has low
pressure increases energy consumption, which requires the vehicle's
engine to do more
work. Work is equal to Force times Distance (W = F∆d), and lower tire
pressure means a greater force is needed to move the tire a certain
distance. The engine
will work harder to move the vehicle, and in turn causes a higher level
of fuel consumption. This is why one of the highly praised gas
efficiency researchers stress properly inflating tires to manufacturer
specifications.
Remembering the ideal gas law, individuals can better prepare for
huge temperature spikes or drops by adjusting their tires in
anticipation of the weather changes pre-driving. Traveling with
properly inflated tires can save hundreds at the fuel pump. The image
to the right is a common symbol found on many modern day vehicle dash
boards for lower tire pressure.
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