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While many people are vigilant about filling up their car with gas and getting regular oil changes, they aren’t as strict about checking their tire pressure. In fact, a majority of people don’t know what it is or how to measure it.
Reasons for Checking Tire Pressure
There are many reasons it’s important to check your tire pressure, including reducing the possibility of a flat tire or a blowout from occurring. Air pressure should be checked in the tires once a month to make sure everything looks okay. Tire pressure needs to be at the correct inflation level so the vehicle handles optimally, from everyday driving around town to needing to make an emergency maneuver suddenly.
Fuel economy is also negatively impacted when the air pressure isn’t correct. It causes the rolling resistance to increase, which means it takes more energy, or gas, to propel the vehicle forward. The less rubber that’s touching the road when you drive, the worse your vehicle’s handling performance will be. The tires will also need to be replaced sooner than normal due to the unnecessary wear and tear they’ll experience.
How to Check Tire Pressure
To check the tire pressure, an air pressure gauge is the easiest tool to use. They’re only a few dollars and can be found in auto parts stores, gas stations, and the car section of department stores. If you’re in a rush, you can probably just borrow one from a gas station attendant as well. You’ll want to check what the recommended air pressure is for your vehicle by looking in the owner’s manual or seeing if there’s a label on the driver’s side that states it. This number will be read in psi, or pounds per square inch.
Pay attention to hot and cold pressure numbers, as these will be different based on whether the tires or cold or hot (from driving for a while first). Sometimes there will even be a number based on whether the car is being used for towing or how many passengers are in the vehicle. Also, note that the number found on the tire’s sidewall is the maximum pressure and should not be mistaken for the correct inflation level. Unscrew the cap on the valve stem of the tire and put the round part over the stem. Push down hard enough so there’s a seal and read what the number is.
Adding Air to a Tire
When you find tires that are low, go to a gas station to use the air compressor to fill the air up. Press the machine’s valve down firmly over the stem and squeeze the handle to let air in. Check the air pressure several times throughout to make sure your tire doesn’t get overinflated while you fill it up.
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