Many people have been wondering what could be the cause of the incessant tyre burst accidents on Nigerian roads. The major cause is that we inflate too much pressure on our tyres. How did I know?
I was preparing for a long journey and decided to change some of my tyres. When I asked the vulcanizer the recommended Air pressure for the tyres, He said 50. I said alright, he should inflate it to 50 all the four tyres.
When I got to where I was going, I was discussing with some people on the issue of the minister that died on the road due to a burst tyre and wonder what could have happened, because nobody could imagine a minister would be travelling with expired tyres as many would think is the major cause of tyre bursts.
A man (lived in the US for many years) said that the major cause of tyre burst in Nigeria is that we inflate too much pressure in our tyres, he reminded us that each car has a specific recommended tyre size and pressure clearly written on it by the manufacturers.
I was surprised and begged him to come and show me where it’s written in my car. To my greatest surprise, it’s by the driver’s door which I enter every day without noticing it.
By the time we checked, the recommended pressure for my tyres is 32 and I just travelled with tyres on a pressure of 50.
He took me around his compound and showed me that of the cars (which includes a jeep and a Sienna), and the highest was 32. Some were even 29.
He further explained that tyres are made of rubber and expand at a high temperature. So, when you are travelling in the afternoon when the asphalt on the road is hot, the tyres tend to expand. If the pressure on the tyre is too much and wouldn’t accommodate the expansion, a burst is likely to happen at that time.
Please, check the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle and others you know.
