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In Karnataka’s Bengaluru, the city’s longstanding pothole crisis has taken an unusual and ugly turn. Former police and transport authority official Bhaskar Rao recently started a debate among motorists, infrastructure analysts, and safety experts. He gave them a very controversial tip: slightly deflate tyres to better cope with the city’s uneven road surface. The suggestion, widely shared on various social media platforms, has drawn sharp criticism on every corner. It underscores currently how aggravated public sentiment has become about Bengaluru’s crumbling streets.
The Tip and the Backlash
On September 23, Rao suggested an idea reducing tyre pressure from the typical 34–36 psi range to around 30–32 psi, asserting it would soften the ride and help absorb jolts from Bengaluru’s potholes. Later on, he defended the advice as grounded in engineering practice previously used in bus suspensions, and claimed it would ease discomfort over uneven stretches.
However, the reaction was swift and mostly critical. Automobile engineers, motoring forums, and daily commuters warned that underinflated tyres can lead to sidewall damage, rim bending, overheating, compromised water evacuation on wet roads, and overall reduced handling stability. Many netizens also argued that such fixes place the onus on drivers rather than demanding accountability from municipal bodies responsible for roads.
A commuter in Whitefield, for example, lamented ongoing wheel alignment costs, declaring: “Instead of advising us to tamper with vehicles, authorities should just fix the roads.” Another resident questioned why citizens should adapt to potholes instead of expecting leaders to repair them.
Rao, undeterred, responded that the proposal is voluntary and supplementary—he still acknowledges that road repair is the real solution.
Technical Perspective: Gains vs Risks
From a technical perspective, tyre pressure adjustment is a delicate act. Slightly reduced pressure indeed increases the tyre’s contact patch and can mildly soften the blow from irregular bumps. But if it goes too low:
- Raises heat build-up under load and may accelerate tread wear.
- Weakens cornering stability, particularly at speed, increasing the risk of losing grip.
- Compromises wet performance, as a flatter tread profile can impair water dispersal.
- Exposes sidewalls to harsher flexing, raising the risk of punctures or damage near potholes.
Automotive engineers typically caution that tyre pressures be set according to manufacturer-recommended cold pressure, and adjustments for load or terrain should remain within safe deviation margins. Any deviation should be temporary and carefully monitored.
Thus, while Rao’s advice might offer a perceptible comfort tweak for slow, local commuting over potholed stretches. But applying it broadly, especially at higher speeds or on highways could tip the balance towards safety hazards.
Larger Context: Infrastructure, Accountability & Expectations
Rao’s suggestion is symptomatic of deeper frustration. Bengaluru has allocated large sums for road development, yet potholes resurface quickly every now and then. Reports indicate that over INR 5,000 crore was spent on roadworks in the past two years, only to see deterioration soon after the rainy season.
The newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (replacing the former BBMP) is under pressure to demonstrate competence swiftly.
Politically, the state government has responded defensively. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar argued potholes arise from heavy rainfall, traffic volume, and natural wear — not neglect — and claimed over 7,000 potholes had been filled with more pending. However, critics counter that the speed, quality, and durability of repairs remain questionable every time.
For motorists, the cycle is all too familiar: suspension repairs, wheel misalignment, and constant vigilance over bad stretches. The patience has worn thin.
In the end, Bhaskar Rao’s “deflate tyres” advice may have been offered as a pragmatic patch for a chronic public grievance, but the backlash illustrates how citizens, engineers, and policymakers view it. They think of it as a diversion from the root problem. Tyre pressure adjustments carry performance trade-offs that merit caution. Meanwhile, the fundamental demand remains the same: durable road design, accountable execution, and infrastructure systems resilient to wear and weather.
In Bengaluru’s case, the controversy underscores a larger narrative — that no amount of driving hacks can substitute for functional governance in urban mobility.
