{"id":13431,"date":"2023-02-01T10:31:24","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T10:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gotire.com\/?p=13431"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:10:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:10:10","slug":"how-long-can-you-drive-on-low-tire-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotire.com\/blog\/how-long-can-you-drive-on-low-tire-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Tire Pressure: How Long Can You Drive and What are the Risks?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If your tire pressure is just below 30 psi, you can still drive on it for a few hours. But if you got a TPMS light on or the pressure is at 20 psi, filling the tire with air is an emergency. What happens if you don’t do it, or if the psi is too high, tells GoTire specialist Yens Svayder. Plus, he shares a few handy tips that every driver should know.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Driving on a tire with low air pressure is a serious risk factor, and you need to top it up asap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What is tire pressure, and why is it important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your tires connect you to the road and allow you to move smoothly over various surfaces. They are, arguably, one of the most critical parts of a car, and the air pressure inside them is very important. There are risks associated with having too much or too little air in your tires (too high or too low tire pressure), as it can affect many things, from fuel efficiency and handling to general safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tire pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi), the weight of the air pressure inside your tire. You can check your tire pressure with a small portable tire pressure gauge at the air pumps at a gas station, or you may be notified if your pressure drops by your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When something goes wrong with our car, we usually go straight to our local mechanic to sort out the problem. But there are a few things that motorists need to know how to check, including the amount of windshield wiper fluid, the level of the engine oil and coolant, and the pressure of the tires. I know my dad showed me how to do all that when I got my first car!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is dangerously low tire pressure?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So what is a dangerously low level of pressure for your tires, and what should you do about it? While the normal recommended tire pressure<\/a> for most tires is between 32 and 35 psi, you can actually go as low as 20 psi before it’s considered a flat tire. Ideally, you’ve caught the low tire pressure before it gets to 20 psi and rectified it. We recommend you check your tire pressure regularly and add air when it gets to 28 psi or beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dangerously low tire pressure can lead to an accident, be very cautious!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If your car has a tire pressure warning light, this is likely to come on when your pressure drops by about 25% (so 24 to 26 psi). While you can have lower tire pressure than this, it is still definitely low enough for you to need to fix the problem right away and re-fill your tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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