• meathorse@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    The air is like a flock of sheep - as soon as one finds a way out, they all immediately rush out too.

    Even a tiny nick on the stem, the tyre would be flat before they’ve fastened their seatbelts.

      • meathorse@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        Yes, yes it is. The tyre is at a higher pressure than the atmosphere so any hole will allow the air to equalize but the difference is how that air comes out:

        Stab the sidewall (big hole, rapidly) air rushes out with a big bang.

        Snip the stem, smaller hole, air rushes out slower but still very quick. Likely flat in under a minute. Different structure/strength that sidewall which is why it doesn’t pop/explode.

        If you get a puncture, the reason it doesn’t leak as fast as snipping the stem (nor pop) - usually the nail/screw is still in the tyre, keeping it plugged somewhat, the distortion of the tyre under weight means this hole can open and close as the car rolls letting out a little at a time.

        Source: have had punctures that take hrs to run flat, have watched tyre techs clip stems on an old tyres, seen videos of tyres being stabbed.