Checking your tire pressure and adding air seems like such a
simple task that you don’t even need to think about it. But keeping your tires
at the proper pressure and knowing how to fill them correctly is a very crucial
task. It will help your tires last longer and make your ride smoother.
This article from Cars.com lists tips for checking your tire
pressure as well as instructions for how to fill your tires in order to keep
them in the best shape possible.
Before
starting
To find your tires' proper inflation level,
look for a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb. It displays the vehicle weight
restriction and tire information. The info is also found in the maintenance or
car-care section of your vehicle’s owner's manual.
Don't refer to the sidewall markings on your
tires, which in part specify the maximum tire pressure — not the recommended
pressure.
Unless your tire is visibly flat, don't judge
tire inflation just by looking at it; you have to use a tire pressure gauge to
get the correct pounds per square inch reading. There are three types of
tire-pressure gauges: digital, internal slide and dial. Prices range from $5
for a basic gauge to more than $30 for one that is digital, has an air-release
button — or even talks. All will do the job, but you may want to consider the
conditions in which you'll be using your gauge. "We've found that low-cost
digital pressure gauges are very accurate and maintain the accuracy longer, but
in extremely cold temperatures the gauge may not show up properly," said John
Rastetter, Tire Rack's director of tire information services.
Tips for checking and filling your tires
Tire manufacturers
suggest checking tires when they're cold for the most accurate reading. Outside
temperatures can cause tire pressure to vary by as much as 1 psi per 10
degrees; higher temperatures mean higher psi readings. "Tires are black;
what does black do? Attract heat," Rastetter said, noting the importance
of finding a shady place to check and fill all four tires.
Temperature plays a huge part in tire psi, Rastetter
said, adding that the most crucial time of year to check pressure is in fall and winter when days are shorter and average temperatures
plummet.
Check your tires in
the morning before going anywhere, because as soon as you get behind the wheel
for an extended amount of time, psi will rise. Rastetter said that if you've
been on the road a long time and notice higher psi in your tires, don't let the
air out, as the increase in pressure has built up due to the warm,
constantly-in-motion tires
What to do
1. Pull
your car onto a level surface in the shade.
2. Remove dust caps from the tires' valve stems.
3. Using your tire gauge, firmly press the tip of the
gauge straight on to the tire's valve stem for a brief moment.
4. The tire gauge should provide a psi reading; if the
number seems unrealistically low or high — for example, 85 psi or 1 psi – you
will need to repeat the previous step, ensuring that the tire gauge's tip is
properly making contact with the valve stem.
5. If the tire gauge's recorded reading is higher than
the manufacturer-recommended rating, press the gauge tip on the valve stem
until you hear air leak out. Check the tire pressure again.
6. If the reading is lower than recommended, fill the
tire with air by firmly pressing the air-hose tip onto the valve stem. You will
hear air quietly enter the tire. If you hear air leaking or spraying out, you
need to double-check that the connection between the air hose and the tire’s
valve stem is secure.
7. When you think you've added or let out enough air,
check the pressure a few times with the gauge.
8. Replace the valve dust caps. Rastetter emphasized the
importance of keeping dust caps on during winter driving because if water gets
into the valve stem and freezes inside the tire, it could cause a flat.
While you're at it,
check your spare tire's pressure. You don't want to have a flat tire and then
find out your replacement is flat, too.
Make these steps
part of your routine. It will benefit your vehicle and your wallet.
Americans have been
driving for over 100 years now. The United States is currently ranked first
worldwide in cars per capita. Along the
years, there have been an abundant of funny facts on cars and the culture. Keep
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