How Often Should I Check My Tire Pressure And How

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We all know how to check if our car is running low on gas, but do you know how to check your tire pressure? More importantly, what should you do if your tire pressure is low?

Checking your tire pressure regularly is the best way to be certain that your tires are running at the predicted pressure level. It’s best if you check them every time you fill your gas tank. It will take only couple of minutes. The tire pressure level is written on a sticker located on your drivers side”.

In this article you will learn about:

  • How Often Should I Check My Tire Pressure
  • Why Should I Check My Tire Pressure
  • How To Check My Tire Pressure
  • Should I Higher My Tire Pressure At Winter Time

How Often Should I Check My Tire Pressure

In normal weather conditions, you should check your tire pressureOpens in a new tab.

Properly inflated tires play a role in safety, better mileage, better ride quality and tire wear, meaning they’ll last much longer if you keep the tire pressure at predicted level. The experts say we should all keep a tire pressure gauge in our vehicles. You can get yours from Amazon here. They remind the drivers that you won’t be able to tell if your tires are just a few pounds low. If they’re running ten pounds or more that is noticeable, making it that
much more important to check the tire pressure in cold weather.

Why Should I Check My Tire Pressure

Vehicle manufacturers take weight, torque, and the size of the vehicle into consideration to determine the contact footprint. A tire that is low on air pressure completely crumbles like cookies. When the tire’s low on pressure, it will roll over more, and you’ll start to develop dangerous friction as it rolls into the sidewall.
One of the indicators you’d look at is a dark line around the tire. The tire, obviously, has to come off the wheel to be able to determine if it’s been run low on air pressure beyond a point of repair. Here is why you should check your tire pressure:
  1. It’s dangerous to drive with tires that are low on pressureOpens in a new tab.
  2. Beyond the safety of the tire, whether it’s under-inflated or overinflated, there’s also the economic value of having it properly inflated. So, if you’re running a tire low on pressure, it builds up more rolling resistance, which requires more energy, and in turn, more fuel. So if you run your tire at the air pressure that’s recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, you can get an additional two weeks of free fuel consumption.
  3. The other thing being that a tire that’s eight pounds below its recommended pressure, will get 15,000 kilometers less tread life over the course, which it could be an additional year of driving.

How To Check My Tire Pressure

Checking your tire pressure takes just a couple of minutes. (Pressure Gauge available on amazon)It’s a super simple routine checkup that you should do at least once a week and especially before a long road trip. Some cars will even have tire pressureOpens in a new tab.
dashboard to let you know that your tire pressure has dropped. Incorrect tire pressure can lead to poor mileage, uneven tire wearOpens in a new tab.
  • A Tire Pressure Gauge

There are several types of tire pressure gauge’s.  You’ll want to check your tire pressure when your tires are cold, if you’ve driven for less than a mile or so, or a couple hours after you’ve driven. This will provide for the most accurate reading. Here’s how to do it:

  1. First, check the proper tire pressure for your tires. This information can be listed on the sticker inside of your driver’s side door, or in your owner’s manual. On some car’s it’s located inside of the fuel door.
  2. Place the gauge head over the valve stem on your tireOpens in a new tab.
  3. Now, compare the measured pressure to the proper pressure. Do not compare it to the pressure listed on your tire. If the measured PSI is above the proper number, let air out by pressing on the center pin of the valve stem until it matches the proper number. If the measured PSI is below the number, add air until it matches the proper number. If you own an automatic air pump, or even a bicycle pump, then great you can use those. If not, most gas stations have a coin-operated air pump.
  4. Place the tip of the hose over the valve stem. Hold it firmly and listen as the air fills the tires. If you hear a wild spraying of air, reposition the hose tip flush against the valve and hold it firmly. If your tires are low on pressure and may take up to a few minutes to fill them. If you’re just topping them off, the process may take only less than 30 seconds. But, be sure to check every 15 seconds or so. When you think you’ve had enough air, pull the hose away and use a tire pressure gauge to check the air pressure. If you’ve added too much air, release some air in small increments until the measured pressure matches the proper pressure. If you’ve added too little air, grab that hose and add some more.

Should I Higher The Tire Pressure In Winter Time?

Some vehicle manufacturers recommend that you higher your tire pressureOpens in a new tab.

in winter time, checking tire pressure becomes more important. The weather conditions has major influence in tire pressure changes. It is advised to check pressure values at least once a week and before each longer journey.
For example:
  • Recommended 2 bars pressure for tire inflated in 20 Celsius degrees will drop to 1.8 bars in 0 Celsius degrees.
  • Another temperature drop to a level of about -10 Celsius degree will result in 1.7 bar pressure.
  • At a minus 20 Celsius degrees tire pressure will reach only 1.59 bar, which is 20% less than manufacturer recommendation.

Having correct tire pressureOpens in a new tab.

I hope that this article provided the information that you were looking for. Short summary, always make sure to check your tire pressure. I do it every time when I fill my gas tank with fuelOpens in a new tab.

Igor Iwanowski

I am a certified Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) mechanic since 2018. I specialize in Brake systems, dashboard warning lights, EGRs, general engine problems, EVAP and Emissions issues.

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