How Your Tires React to Hot Weather

June 29, 2023

When the summer heat sets in, it's not just the lawn you have to worry about - your car's tires are also affected. Tires in hot weather are likely to experience pressure changes that could adversely affect your driving experience. Keep reading to learn how hot weather affects tire pressure, whether or not hot weather causes tires to lose air, and signs that excessive heat is damaging your tires

How Does Hot Weather Affect Tire Pressure?

You've probably experienced those unfortunate winter days when you find your car's tires are suddenly underinflated as if the air was sucked out of them. In the summer heat, however, the exact opposite happens. Because air expands in hot weather, your tires tend to become overinflated, like an expanding balloon. In fact, during excessive heat, the air pressure in your tires can increase by as much as 20%.

Generally, your tire pressure changes by 1-2 psi for every 10-degree change in air temperature. That means if your tire pressure was 32 psi in December, the rising temperature grades could very well cause your tires to be over 40 psi by the summer. What's more, friction from your car's tires on the road adds even more heat to your expanding tires. All this heat and pressure can lead to overinflated tires that are more likely to wear out faster and could even result in a blowout if the pressure is too high.

Do Tires Lose Air in Hot Weather?

Though they do not typically lose air in hot weather, tires naturally lose about 1 psi per month if left unchecked. A tire is not likely to lose air due to hot weather unless the affected tire experiences a blowout.

If you find that your tires are constantly losing pressure, it may not be the heat that's to blame but rather a slow leak from a puncture. To catch slow leaks and ensure your tires are inflated to the manufacturer-recommended psi, it's important to check tire pressure at least once a month. If you can't seem to figure out why your tires are losing pressure, bring your vehicle to your nearest INFINITI retailer for a detailed inspection.

Signs the Summer Heat is Damaging Your Tires

While fluctuations in tire pressure during the summer are to be expected, overinflated tires caused by high temperatures can lead to several undesirable effects. Below are some of the common signs of overinflated tires.

Premature, Uneven Tire Wear

A properly inflated tire has even contact with the road across the width of the tire. When a tire is overinflated, however, its contact patch decreases. This leads to premature, uneven wear as only the center part of the tire is worn down by the road. Ultimately, low or uneven tread makes your car work harder to gain traction on the road, which can lead to a decline in fuel economy and safety.

Poor Handling and Braking

Driving on overinflated tires often results in poor handling and braking capabilities. This is because an overinflated tire has less of its tread's surface area hitting the road, which decreases its traction. Any time your car loses traction, you can expect your handling and braking to take a hit too.

Rigid, Inflexible Tires

Just like an underinflated tire becomes low and saggy, an overinflated tire becomes rigid and inflexible from the increased air pressure. Not only do overinflated tires make for a rougher ride, but they are also more prone to damage. When the pressure is too high inside the tire, sometimes all it takes is a stray piece of road debris to cause a dangerous tire blowout. In contrast, properly inflated tires should be somewhat malleable in order to respond to such changes on the road.

How to Handle Tires in Hot Weather

The summertime is perfect for road trips, but before you drive anywhere, be sure to check your tire pressure and adjust accordingly. Here are a few important tips to remember when checking your tires:

• Don't forget to check the spare tire as well-you never know when you may need it.
• Keep a tire pressure gauge, preferably an electronic one with a dial, in your car for quick and accurate checks at any time.
• Always check your tires when they're "cold" to get an accurate reading - meaning they haven't been driven on for at least three hours.
• Your tires may measure as if they're overinflated if you check them while they're still "hot" after driving. Do not let out any air pressure during this time, as it may actually leave your tires underinflated.
• Avoid filling up your tires to the maximum psi allowance indicated on the sidewall of each tire. Instead, look in your owner's manual or the driver's door jamb for your vehicle manufacturer's recommended psi.
• Your car's tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) will likely only tell you when a tire is underinflated, not overinflated, so it's up to you to look out for excessive air pressure in your tires.




Checking tire pressure and tread regularly is an important part of road safety. If your tire tread is wearing thin and you know you're going to be driving a lot this summer, buying a new set of tires is one of the best things to do. Whether you need to switch your winter tires out for summer ones or want to replace your worn tires for a new set, turn to INFINITI Parts & Accessories. Order tires for your INFINITI online and visit your local service center for help with installation.