Low or flat tire

Tires can leak air for various reasons. As the air escapes, new problems can develop such as interference with braking and the vehicle pulling to one side.

Table of Contents

• 1. Symptoms
  • 1.1 ABS Light Comes On
  • 1.2 Vehicle Shakes or Pulls to One Side
  • 1.3 Tire Pressure Warning Light On
• 2. Further Damage
  • 2.1 Tire Blowout

Symptoms

ABS Light Comes On

The ABS light indicates to the driver when the ABS system is turned off due to a sort of system malfunction. A low or flat tire can trigger this because a flat tire has more rolling resistance and will rotated much slower than the other wheels. Early Tire Pressure Warning Systems use ABS instead of tire pressure sensors.

Vehicle Shakes or Pulls to One Side

A low or flat tire will set the axle on a diagonal, causing the vehicle to pull to one side. A flat tire will more likely cause a periodic tug/wobble to one side if the tires is in the front, and perhaps a wobble or shake if the suspect tire is in the rear. These symptoms will get worse with speed and cornering, depending on how low the tire pressure is.

Tire Pressure Warning Light On

A tire pressure warning light typically resembles a horseshoe with a small exclamation point inside, and glows yellow or orange. All vehicles made in the USA after 2007 are equipped with a direct Tire Pressure Warning System or TPMS. This means that there are sensors in all 4 tires typically located at the valve stem. When they detect that tire pressure is below a certain threshold they will send a warning signal and turning the light on, this pressure is usually just below 30 psi. Light can be turned on by temperature drop, puncture/leak in the tire, tire rotation, replacement of tires, faulty or broken sensor, or a system malfunction.

Further Damage

Tire Blowout

If a tire does not have sufficient air inside than it can build heat in the tire rubber itself due to the fact that a flat tire has more rolling resistance than a properly inflated tire. The heat can soften the tire's sidewall rubber and cause a blowout. Do not ignore tire pressure warning systems or flat/low tires. They are a major safety system on the vehicle and keep you on the road at high speeds. Driving with a flat or very low tire is like your car walking or running with a sprained ankle or bad knee.