Do under inflated tires have less braking ability?

Question

I read somewhere that under inflated tires consume more gas per mile which makes perfect sense. However, it also mentions that under inflated tires reduces the braking/stopping power of a car as well as reduces ease of control.

In my mind, if you have under inflated tires, the amount of grip that the tire has on the road should increase right? After all, there is more surface area of the tire on the road which leads to more friction and better braking power combined with lower fuel efficiency.

Is the article wrong or am I thinking about this in an incorrect way?

Answer 1

Nope, this is very dangerous.........

An under-inflated tire increases rolling resistance, which cuts a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, and with an estimated 80 percent of drivers unable to check the pressure in their tires it’s not beyond the bounds of reason to think billions of gallons of gasoline are wasted on American roads each year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12517107/

Answer 2

Underinflated tires don't allow the tread to make proper contact with the road and much of the grip is lost. This will affect the handling and braking of the car. Underinflated tires will also heat up as you drive and could eventually lead to a blowout. This heat factor is further amplified if you live in a warm-weather climate and if your vehicle is heavily loaded with passengers or cargo.

Under normal driving conditions, underinflated tires won't significantly affect the driving dynamics of the vehicle. However, if an emergency avoidance maneuver is required and the tires are underinflated, braking is severely reduced and the car's handling is compromised. The result could be the difference between life and death.

Answer 3

the article is right tires if driven on the road has specs on them for your safty as well as the article has mention

Answer 4

It's one of those double edged sword type questions. Yes a tire that has lower air pressure in it will exert more contact area on the road surface which may give better "grip" under the right conditions.

And then comes the "but". Take any given vehicle and put it on wider tires on a wet surface and I can almost assure you that you will experience loss of traction compared to narrower (properly inflated) tires. In the wet more does not mean better. Tires with more road contact area are much more prone to hydroplaning.

And now for the other "but". Tire sidewalls are designed to work within a given air pressure range. Under pressured tires also give way to more sidewall flexing which can lead to more rolling up of the tire surface.

So yes, you are sort of correct. But when you factor all of the other variables of what makes a tire work as designed, weather issues such as rain, temp etc., generally speaking low air pressure is not a good thing.

Answer 5

I once borrowed a truck from a friend to pick up a load of grass for my lawn.  The grass had been recently watered, so it was extra heavy.  The truck's tires were under-inflated.  I was sliding all over the road.  It scared the fertilizer right out of me.  I stopped at the first gas station and inflated the tires, and then I was okay.  So, my experience indicates that your logic is wrong.  But keep trying.