{"id":770,"date":"2026-08-21T09:44:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T07:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pneus-online.fr\/mag\/?p=770"},"modified":"2026-08-21T09:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T07:48:13","slug":"heatwave-tyres-heat-pressure-wear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pneus-online.fr\/mag\/en\/canicule-pneus-chaleur-pression-usure\/","title":{"rendered":"Heatwave and tyres: what temperature does the road reach and do your tyres wear out faster?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heatwave and tyres: what temperature does the road reach and do your tyres wear out faster?<\/h1>\n

\"Tyres<\/a><\/p>\n

When temperatures soar in summer, the heat isn't just about the ambient air. The road surface heats up, the tyres<\/strong><\/a> heat up while driving and their pressure changes naturally. So, what really happens when you take to the motorway in 37 or 38 \u00b0C heat?<\/p>\n

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Summary<\/h2>\n
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  1. Why does heat affect your tyres directly?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Why do tyres heat up on the motorway?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Does the heat wear tyres out more?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  4. What happens to tyre pressure when the weather is hot?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Why is under-inflation particularly problematic in summer?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  6. What to check before a long journey in hot weather?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Which tyres should I choose for driving in summer?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    1. Why does heat act directly on your tyres?<\/h2>\n

    It is necessary to distinguish between air temperature<\/strong> forecast by the weather and that of the road surface. A dark road surface exposed to the sun for several hours absorbs a significant amount of solar radiation. Its surface can therefore become much hotter than the ambient air.<\/p>\n

    During a day in 37 or 38 \u00b0C<\/strong>, a heavily exposed road surface can exceed 50 \u00b0C<\/strong> and, under certain very sunny conditions, reach or exceed the 60 \u00b0C<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Good to know:<\/strong> the exact temperature of the bitumen depends on the amount of sunshine, the colour of the surface, the wind, the time of day and the traffic. It is therefore necessary to speak of an order of magnitude rather than a systematic temperature.<\/div>\n

    This does not mean that a tyre will automatically be damaged. The car tyres<\/strong><\/a> are designed to withstand high operating temperatures, provided they are correctly inflated and suited to the vehicle.<\/p>\n

    2. Why do tyres heat up on the motorway?<\/h2>\n

    The road surface temperature is only part of the phenomenon. As the car drives, the tyre continuously deforms at its contact patch with the road. With every wheel rotation, the casing and the rubber work and then return to their shape.<\/p>\n

    This deformation itself generates heat. The higher the speed, load and journey duration, the more the tyre is stressed. It is notably for this reason that the choice of good summer tyres<\/strong><\/a> is particularly important for high-mileage drivers.<\/p>\n

    On the motorway, several factors combine<\/h3>\n