A small mistake can lead to a tire blowout in the heat

When driving in the summer, many people first think about the air conditioning and how to use it properly . Another thing is often overlooked, but is essential for driving safety: correct tire pressure. The tire pressure must be checked after every tire change. It can be adjusted 0.1 to 0.2 bar above the specified values; this saves fuel.

During hot summer days, under-inflation is a particular danger. Tire expert Fabian Faehrmann from the ADAC (German Automobile Club) told FOCUS online: "Tires usually don't burst due to the heat alone, but rather due to under-inflation. If this happens, the tire deforms more significantly ('flexing') and heats up extremely. This can damage the tire casing so severely that it bursts. If this happens on the leading rear axle, serious accidents usually result."

Especially before long vacation trips in a loaded car, the tire pressure should be checked. This is best done in the shade at a temperature around 20 degrees Celsius, rather than in direct heat. The table for this can be found here:

• in the car's manual,
• in the door pillar of the driver's door,
• in the fuel filler flap.

The air pressure chart has different columns depending on whether you're traveling alone, with two people, or with a full complement of passengers and luggage. There are also columns for different tire sizes, as well as for the front and rear wheels. The air pressure is given in kPa (kilopascals). 100 kPa is 1 bar. At 330 kPa, for example, you need to inflate the tire to 3.3 bar. The easiest way to do this is with an air pressure gauge at a gas station, where you set the desired pressure. When checking the air pressure, don't forget your spare tire (if you have one - many modern cars only have a Tirefit repair kit).

Theoretically, you can even drive with winter tires in the summer. Even at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, experts don't see any problems: "A longer braking distance is only to be expected at truly midsummer temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius," says TÜV Süd. So, in the current heat wave, winter tires would actually not be a good idea. The softer rubber compound impairs handling characteristics.

But what about the increasingly popular all-season tires? These, too, have a special tire compound and a tread pattern that represents a compromise between good summer and winter performance. Fabian Faehrmann from the ADAC (German Automobile Club) gives the all-clear: "All-season tires are fundamentally designed to perform even in high summer temperatures. Their construction and rubber compounds are tuned for a wide temperature range."