April 30, 2013 - Keeping a close watch on your tire pressure is highly advisable, as the wrong amount of pressure can cause problems that could cause severe car damage, and also be detrimental to your safety. Driving your car around on tires that have too little, or too much air pressure isn’t gas efficient and could cost you money.
Having the appropriate tire pressure can help avoid unnecessary wear and tear on your tires, and can improve gas mileage and help you save gas at the pump. Checking your car’s tire pressure is even easier than putting air in the tire, and only takes a few moments to do. These 3 factors alone are reason enough to check the pressure of your car’s tires as frequently as possible.
Checking the tire pressure on your car is a simple task that can easily be performed while pumping gas. You’ll need a tire gauge, which can cost just a few bucks for a normal gauge or around $15 for a digital gauge. Find the recommended psi (pounds per inch) for your vehicle in the manual, or possibly on the sticker inside the door jam.
Place the gauge onto the tire’s air valve and press firmly to allow the air to flow into the gauge. Repeat the process for each tire, and observe psi levels for each. If the psi is higher or lower than what is recommended for your vehicle inflate or deflate as necessary. When inflating the tires, use the gauge to check the pressure intermittently while putting in air to avoid over-inflation. It’s unsafe to drive with your psi above or below what’s required for your vehicle, so check tire pressure regularly to maintain proper levels.
