Temperatures are soaring in Ireland once again this week, with some parts of the country expected to hit 29 degrees in a weather event that has prompted Met Eireann into issuing a rare eight-day weather advisory for the entire country.
The weather advisory remains in place until August 15 with Met Éireann warning or "very warm and hot" condition and "uncomfortably warm" nights between now and the end of the week.
In that heat, car tyres can become susceptible to bursting. One basic rule of science is that substances, like air, contract in the cold and expand with heat. As temperatures rise, it can cause the air pressure in your tyres to increase - even when the vehicle is stationary.
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Just a few extra bars of air pressure in your tyres can cause serious damage to them - the most extreme being the potential for your tyres to pop.
One expert, Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing explains how the phenomenon works and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you.
“When your vehicle’s tyres are exposed to hot temperatures they are susceptible to wear and tear, over-inflation and even popping. There are several factors involved in this.
“Firstly, your tyres are made of rubber, which while designed to have a high resistance to heat build-up, has a breaking point.
“Think of your tyres as being like rubber balloons. They can only withstand a certain amount of air being put into them before they over-inflate and burst.
“Your tyres contain a quantity of compressed air. This, like all materials, is made up of atoms and molecules which react to heat.
“When molecules heat up they begin to vibrate, which in turn causes them to expand. The hotter things get, the more the compressed air pushes against its container - your tyres.
“Another reason why heat can damage your tyres is friction. When your vehicle is moving, the rubbing of your tyres against the road generates a good deal of friction.
“Friction creates heat, and so naturally makes your tyres hot. During a heatwave, friction will cause your tyres to become even hotter than usual," he said.
There are ways to spot the problem before the worst happens.
“Fortunately, there are some really easy ways to spot when your tyre is at risk of overheating.
“When your tyre is overheating it will be hot to the touch. If it causes you physical discomfort to touch your tyre with your hand, this is a clear indication of overheating.
“Most vehicles come fitted with a tyre pressure warning light, which is typically located in the instrument cluster of your dashboard.
“Your warning light will tell you when you have too little air pressure in your tyres. It lets you know when there is a problem by illuminating in colour.
“However, while warning lights are great at telling you when your tyres are close to deflating, you cannot always rely on them to inform you when there is too much air pressure in your tyres.
“During periods of high temperature, it is worth checking for overinflation in your tyres yourself, using a tyre pressure gauge.
“If you don’t already own a tyre pressure gauge, they are readily available to purchase for less than €10.
“If you spot any of these signs, try and move your vehicle to a shaded place to give your tyres a chance to cool down”.
Graham also explained how you can prevent the problem from occurring during the warm spell of weather.
“When events like heatwaves occur, there are measures that drivers can take to prevent their tyres from over-inflating or popping.
“The first step you should take as a driver is to make sure that your tyres are inflated to the recommended level.
“The recommended level for safe driving varies between vehicles and manufacturers. The recommended level for your vehicle should be written in the owner’s manual that came with your vehicle.
“It is important not to confuse the recommended level with the maximum recommended level, as both of these figures should be listed in your manual.
“When you are on the road, keep doing regular checks of your tyres with a gauge, especially when driving in the heat. Don’t be afraid to do a check every few hours, as you can never be too cautious.
“If your tyres are showing signs of overheating, take your vehicle to a place where it can cool down.
“Do not be tempted into letting a little air of your tyres manually, as this could lead them to become under-inflated, which is equally as dangerous.
“When your tyres overheat and over-inflate, they will show wear and tear by drying out and cracking.
“Regular maintenance of tyres will help to prepare them against overheating damages, and you can actually prevent your tyres from what’s known as ‘sidewall dry rot’ by treating them with a special tyre dressing or protectant product.
“If you have had your tyres for a while, and they are showing considerable signs of wear and tear, the best course of action may be to replace them with new tyres.
“Tyres that are already worn out are most likely to leak air, and in extreme heat, are more likely to pop.
“Consider replacing your old tyres with ‘all season’ tyres that are better suited to withstand higher temperatures.
“The final preventions you can take may sound obvious but are essential to keeping your tyres and your vehicle safe in the heat.
“As well as keeping within the laws of the road, staying within the speed limit will reduce the amount of friction on your tyres, making them less susceptible to overheating and blowout.
“Drivers should also keep the weight of their vehicle down to a minimum in the summer months.
“Putting more weight on your vehicle means putting more pressure on your tyres, and can increase the likelihood of damage”.
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