Flat tire psi8/11/2023 ![]() When you bring your car in for service, ask them to check the tire pressure most garages will do this at no additional cost. ![]() If you have no known problems with your tires, check your vehicle's tire pressure seasonally or before you head off on a road trip. Is there any maintenance required between intervals? I've built a working nuclear reactor out of wood. I've fixed things on my car that involve removing more than five bolts. I've successfully hung pictures around the house. It depends on where you rank on the Car Talk do-it-yourself scale: The correct tire pressure should be printed right on this particular type of spare. If you have a small, space-saver spare, then the pressure for that tire is probably not the same pressure as your regular tires. Finally, check the spare tire at least once in a while - it would be an unpleasant surprise to find it flat when you need it. Just because three of your tires are at 30 pounds doesn't mean that the fourth tire isn't nearly flat. When you do check your tire pressure, remember to check all four tires. In other words, you can drive to the gas station a few blocks away and ask them to check the pressure, but don't expect to pull off the highway after driving for an hour and expect to get an accurate reading. You can check tire pressure any time of the day, as long as the tires have been sitting for a few hours or haven't been driven for more than a few miles. Cold, in this sense, simply means that your tires are at air temperature. That doesn't mean you need to move to International Falls, Minn., to check your tire pressure. Analog, dial-type gauges or digital gauges tend to be fairly accurate.Īnd when should you check the tire pressure? You should check it when the tire is cold. Some tire gauges, such as the popular pencil-style gauge, are notoriously inaccurate. Once you know the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, then you need an accurate tire gauge to check the tire pressure. We recommend a high-quality digital or dial-type tire-pressure gauge like this one. This number usually is indicated either on the driver's door pillar, the glove compartment door or sometimes on the gas filler door. Check your owner's manual to find out where to look on your vehicle to find the recommended measurement. The recommended tire pressure is almost always lower than the maximum tire pressure. The number on the tire is the maximum allowable air pressure - not the recommended pressure for that tire when used on your vehicle. If the specs aren't on any door post, check inside the glove compartment (pictured), under the center console cover or in the owner's manual.Ī lot of people check the pressure listed on the tires themselves, but that's actually the wrong place to look. How do you determine the correct tire pressure for your car's tires? So if you last had your tire pressure checked in July, when it was 80 degrees outside, and it's now January - and the temperature is minus 20 - your tires may be underinflated by 10 pounds, which is dangerous. Tire pressure decreases by about 1 pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outside air temperature. Why? Because tire pressure also changes with the temperature outside. One sign of low tire pressure is if your tires squeal when cornering.Īnd you need to check your tire pressure even if your tires aren't leaking. Overheating can lead to tread separation - and a nasty accident. As a result, not only will your tires wear prematurely, but they also could overheat. If tire pressure is too low, then too much of the tire's surface area touches the ground, which increases friction between the road and the tire. (Hint: If you notice that every tie you own has coffee on it, check your tire pressure. You'll also feel a decrease in ride comfort. And when your tires are bouncing instead of firmly planted on the road, traction suffers and so do your stopping distances. As a consequence, your car will bounce around on the road. If tire pressure is too high, then less of the tire touches the ground. Incorrect tire pressure also will affect your comfort, fuel economy and tire life. And in the worst-case scenario, improper tire pressure can lead to tire failure - and a serious accident. Incorrect tire pressure will compromise cornering, braking and stability. Next to the brakes, the tires are the most important safety devices on your car. Having the proper tire pressure is a crucial safety issue. Should I do this service when it's recommended? The required service involves checking the tires' pressure with a pressure gauge, at least monthly, if not more frequently. ![]() Tire pressure is a measure of the amount of air in a vehicle's tires, in pounds per square inch. Most vehicles list tire pressure requirements on one of the door posts, most often the driver's.
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