Glass Damage To Tires In Summer Heat: Protecting Your Vehicle

If drivers see broken glass on the road or in a parking lot, they likely swerve to avoid hitting it. However, glass-related damage to tires is sometimes unavoidable and is particularly devastating in the summer. Understanding this problem — and how to avoid it — can help car owners protect their tires from broken glass when summer temperatures reach a high peak.

Minor Glass Exposure Won't Likely Cause Tire Damage 

Improvements in tire design technology have made glass less of a threat to the physical integrity of a tire. For example, the durable surface of modern steel-belted radial tires resists most types of puncture damage, including that of broken glass. 

As a result, most people won't experience a blowout when driving over broken glass. However, specific scenarios could trigger tire failure and cause severe leaks that make even steel-belted tires prone to blowouts from broken glass.

Repeated Glass Impact May Damage Tires 

While new tire technology helps minimize the danger of glass-related blowouts, repeated exposure to glass is still a problem. For example, somebody confident in their steel-belted radial tires may ignore broken glass on the road and drive over it. This repeated exposure to glass may wear down the surface of a tire in minor ways and could trigger a serious blowout.

However, the most significant factor that influences glass-related tire blowouts is the temperature. Unfortunately, serious summer heat — which likely feels so great after a harsh winter — can make tires more prone to blowouts, particularly from sharp elements like glass. In fact, hot temperatures could cause a tire blowout after a single exposure to broken glass.

Heat Increases the Chances of Damage 

When the temperature increases during the summer, the air inside of a tire will start to expand. Expanding air in a tire might not seem like a significant problem at first, but this issue can become dangerous if the air expands too far. For example, already highly inflated tires may suffer from weak points, such as bubbles or cracks on the rubber, due to the expanding tire air.

Even worse, excessive heat can degrade and disassemble tire rubber, causing a weakened surface more prone to damage than ordinary tire rubber. As a result, glass that generally wouldn't have produced a puncture may break through a summer-weakened tire and cause a serious blowout. Thankfully, car owners can take steps to avoid this problem and keep their tires strong.

Protect Tires From This Danger 

Individuals worried about broken glass damaging their tires can take several steps to avoid this problem. First, they can regularly clean tires during the summer to keep dirt and contaminants from wearing down the tire's surface. Make sure to apply a wax to the surface of the tire as well, spreading the wax into the treads, to seal the surface and avoid an increased risk of puncture. 

Vehicle owners can also regularly inspect their tires during the summer for signs of damage. Cracks, lumps, and bubbles indicate an excessive interior temperature. In this scenario, the tires may need replacement to avoid blowouts. Purchase summer tires and put them on a vehicle during the hottest summer months, as summer tires have a slightly different design to resist temperature damage. 

Find Help to Keep Tires Strong 

The danger of tire damage caused by the nasty combination of summer heat and glass should concern just about any driver. So if you own a vehicle and are worried about your tires getting blown, please call us at Extreme Wheels to learn more. Our professionals can help you find high-quality tires that meet your needs and keep your vehicle in great shape.