Heat Effects on Tires while Driving

f30er · 06-28-2009, 04:20 PM

So the absolute strangest thing happened yesterday. I'm out in Phoenix and it was around 108 degrees while I was driving home. About 10 minutes into my drive, I'm in the fast lane and there's this car in the slow lane about 2 cl's ahead of me. All of a sudden, his front drivers side tires EXPLODES! The guy was really good and just slowly drifted over to the shoulder.

Then, today, I'm driving down the freeway, and a massive Escalade a few lanes over has the exact same thing happen to him! So here's my question, Does this have to do with the heat? Could the combination of the outside heat and the increase in temperature while driving cause a tire to burst? I generally keep my tire pressures at the recommended stock levels but should I lower them a few psi's for the summers?

PaulBailey@ltbmw · 06-28-2009, 04:24 PM

Wow i think you're cursed.
Please don't drive near me.

No, jk. Yes, it's probably the heat.

200Duece · 06-28-2009, 05:09 PM

your tires heat up in the summer. if you keep tabs on the pressure you'll be fine. those other people probably had bad tires to start and the heat did them in

aw335cpe · 06-28-2009, 06:44 PM

I think the 'summer' tires must of us run have a better chance in the high temperatures, plus the tread wears out before the rubber goes bad.

Orient330iNYC · 06-28-2009, 11:10 PM

doubt its the heat... more likely people driving on underinflated tires. they fail right at the tire shoulder, sometimes with the tread coming completely off, leaving the sidewalls attached to the rim.

stock tires, IIRC, have a max COLD pressure of 51PSI. the tire mfrs account for the pressure increase due to the tire heating up, so the actual max hot pressure is probably closer to 60psi.

VMRWheels · 06-29-2009, 12:04 AM

I had that same thing happen to me while driving next to a big rig... It was scary! I heard a huge explosion, looked over and a tire is flying right at me!

Most of those issues are caused by horrible alignment, causing uneven wear to the tires and under inflation.

-Charles@VMRWheels

f30er · 06-29-2009, 12:19 AM

Good to know! I'll check my tires psi tomorrow after I drive home. That gives them all day to sit in the heat, plus to drive home.....I'll post back here after I have an actual number.....

06-28-2009, 04:20 PM	#1
f30er Captain 126 Rep 993 Posts Drives: F85 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OTP iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 Jaguar F-Type R [0.00] 2016 GMC Yukon XL [0.00] 2018 BMW X5M [0.00]	Heat Effects on Tires while Driving So the absolute strangest thing happened yesterday. I'm out in Phoenix and it was around 108 degrees while I was driving home. About 10 minutes into my drive, I'm in the fast lane and there's this car in the slow lane about 2 cl's ahead of me. All of a sudden, his front drivers side tires EXPLODES! The guy was really good and just slowly drifted over to the shoulder. Then, today, I'm driving down the freeway, and a massive Escalade a few lanes over has the exact same thing happen to him! So here's my question, Does this have to do with the heat? Could the combination of the outside heat and the increase in temperature while driving cause a tire to burst? I generally keep my tire pressures at the recommended stock levels but should I lower them a few psi's for the summers?
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06-28-2009, 04:24 PM	#2
PaulBailey@ltbmw General 663 Rep 26,878 Posts Drives: 2-325 330 2-335 2-Z4 2-135 X5d Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i E90 [7.00] 2011 BMW 335i E92 [7.96]	Wow i think you're cursed. Please don't drive near me. No, jk. Yes, it's probably the heat.
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06-28-2009, 05:09 PM	#3
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	your tires heat up in the summer. if you keep tabs on the pressure you'll be fine. those other people probably had bad tires to start and the heat did them in __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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06-28-2009, 06:44 PM	#4
aw335cpe Enlisted Member 1 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 335 Coupe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I think the 'summer' tires must of us run have a better chance in the high temperatures, plus the tread wears out before the rubber goes bad.
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06-28-2009, 11:10 PM	#5
Orient330iNYC Brigadier General 1469 Rep 3,552 Posts Drives: 2023 X7 40i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wall St iTrader: (2)	doubt its the heat... more likely people driving on underinflated tires. they fail right at the tire shoulder, sometimes with the tread coming completely off, leaving the sidewalls attached to the rim. stock tires, IIRC, have a max COLD pressure of 51PSI. the tire mfrs account for the pressure increase due to the tire heating up, so the actual max hot pressure is probably closer to 60psi. __________________ Present: 2023 G07 40i ZDH/ZDU/ZMP/ZMQ/2NH/ZPK/ZPP/ZRC/300/3AC Past: 2013 335i 6MT ZMM/ZDH/ZTP/3AG/494/508 Past: 2016 F34 335i xDrive ZCW/ZDA/ZDH/ZTP/ZMP/2V5/5DL Past: 2019 G01 M40i ZDA/2VF/ZPP/ZPX/688/3AC
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06-29-2009, 12:04 AM	#6
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2040 Rep 25,989 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 BMW F30 [0.00] 2014 BMW F22 [0.00] 2013 BMW F06 [0.00]	I had that same thing happen to me while driving next to a big rig... It was scary! I heard a huge explosion, looked over and a tire is flying right at me! Most of those issues are caused by horrible alignment, causing uneven wear to the tires and under inflation. -Charles@VMRWheels __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
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06-29-2009, 12:19 AM	#7
f30er Captain 126 Rep 993 Posts Drives: F85 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OTP iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 Jaguar F-Type R [0.00] 2016 GMC Yukon XL [0.00] 2018 BMW X5M [0.00]	Good to know! I'll check my tires psi tomorrow after I drive home. That gives them all day to sit in the heat, plus to drive home.....I'll post back here after I have an actual number.....
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