Posted on 7/11/2025
Firestone did a study of over 9 million cars that were brought to their centers, and found that 42% suffered from underinflated tires – and that’s a national average. When broken out by states, California came in at the third worst position with 57% rate. Since underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, Firestone calculated that US drivers waste over $18 billion per year on additional fuel. Underinflated tires may seem like a minor issue, yet if you consider all the effects of underinflated tires, it can have consequences that go far beyond your wallet. Here are the issues you may encounter when driving with underinflated tires: Increased fuel consumption Handling difficulty Increased braking distance Less stability when cornering or making emergency maneuvers Uneven tire wear which often results in premature need for tire replacement Increased risk of blowouts Steering feels unresponsive Suspension stress Driving in the rain: increased probability of ... read more