How Do You Roll? Tire Pressure Tips

Your car gets you where you need to go. It requires proper attention to keep you and your passengers safe. Unfortunately, tire pressure is often a forgotten element of car maintenance. Incorrect tire pressure affects many functions of your vehicle from steering to braking and from gas mileage to suspension. Most modern vehicles come standard with a tire pressure warning system. It is not usually until the tire pressure light appears on your dashboard that tire pressure gets checked. Here is some information about the importance of proper tire pressure and how to measure it.

Underinflated Tires

When your tire pressure is too low, more of your tire’s surface area makes contact with the road. This increased friction means more wear on the tire causing you to lose up to 25% off of the life of your tire. This friction also leads to increased heat and the possibility of a tire blowout. Also, if one or more of your tires is severely underinflated, your car’s steering precision is dulled. Underinflated tires can cause you to lose up to 5% fuel efficiency.

Overinflated Tires

Too much air pressure is also bad for your tire and vehicle. Over-inflation pushes on the inner walls of your tire and causes the tread to become harder than normal. Traction comes center of your tire meaning less contact with the surface of the road. Your tires wear unevenly and decrease fuel efficiency because your engine is compensating for reduced contact with the road. Overinflated tires are more susceptible to damage from potholes or debris in the road. The increased pressure weakens your tire’s sidewall and dramatically increasing the chance of a blowout.

Recommended Tire Pressure

You save money and ensure safety with properly inflated tires. On most newer vehicles, the recommended tire pressure for your car is found on a sticker inside the vehicle door. If you cannot locate it, tire pressure recommendations an also be found in your car manual. Measurements are listed as PSI, pounds per square inch. Passenger cars usually recommend 32 to 35 PSI.

How and When to Check Tire Pressure

1. Tire pressures are best measured when tires are cold. Because tires are heated during use, the most accurate tire pressure readings are taken after your vehicle was been sitting overnight or parked for several hours. Don’t rely on how your tires look. You cannot determine the PSI of a tire by visual inspection.
2. Your local auto parts or big box store sells digital and standard tire pressure gauges. Either is fine to measure tire pressure. Remove the valve cap from your tire, and place the pressure gauge on the valve stem. Press down with enough force to make the hissing sound disappear and the gauge provides a reading.
3. Record the PSI for each tire because there are vehicles that may recommend different pressures for front and rear tires.
4. Fill your tire to the recommended PSI. Air compressors are different, so read the directions carefully. Gas stations usually have or low cost air available. Simply place the hose over the valve and press on the lever to fill. Try not to fill your tires to the maximum recommended PSI, as heat will increase tire pressure during use.
5. Check your tire pressures monthly and before you embark on a long road trip.

Checking your tire pressure regularly is an inexpensive way to prolong the life of your vehicle and keep you safe on the road. Being a safe and smart driver is important, and the professionals at Missouri Driving School can help you reach that goal with Missouri driving lessons for St. Louis area drivers. Call us today at 314-849-4590.