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What is the best way to make sure your tires provide the best performance in terms of fuel economy and handling? It’s all in maintaining the right air pressure.
It only takes a couple of minutes to check your tire pressure. This is a crucial step for ensuring tire safety and longevity. This guide will teach you how to check tire inflation in five easy steps.
1. Tire Pressure: How To Determine The Correct Tire Pressure
The recommended tire pressure can be found in three places:
- A sticker is located on the door jamb of the driver’s-side.
- Your owner’s manual
- The fuel door can be found on the console, near the trunk lid or the console.
Look for a number with two digits, followed by the letters ‘PSI (pounds per sq. inch). As an example, the recommended air pressure for passenger cars is 35 PSI.
This pressure is important because it shows the minimum air pressure required to support your vehicle’s weight. On the sidewall of the tire, you may notice the marking ‘MAX PSI.’ This is not the recommended or optimum pressure. It is the maximum pressure possible.
2. When Should You Check Your Tire Pressure?
When is the best time to test tire pressure? It’s best to check tire pressure when the tires are ‘cold’, either first thing in the morning, or after parking the car (in shade if possible). You’ll get less accurate results if your tires are still warm after driving.
It is best to check inflation levels at least once a week. Some drivers make it a habit to check tire pressure each time they fill their gas tank.
Never lower your tire pressure below the recommended PSI when it is hot. As the tire cools down, the pressure will drop.
3. Check Your Tire Pressure With A Gauge That You Can Trust
You’ll need a reliable tire gauge to make it easy to check your tires regularly.
Gas gauges are often inaccurate and can be affected by being knocked. It’s important to use a gauge you know is accurate.
Tire Gauges Come In Three Different Types:
1. Stick tire gauges: These gauges used to look like metal pocket pens. The bar or rod inside the gauge slides out when it presses against the valve stem.
2. The dial tire gauge: Dial gauges are also called analog gauges and have a clock-like round face.
3. Digital tire gauges are easy to use: Just like an LCD digital watch, you can easily read your tire pressure on a digital gauge.
4. Check Your Tire Pressure!
Here’s what you should do now that you have your tire gauge:
1. Remove the valve caps from the tires.
2. Press the tire gauge onto the valve. Use the open end of the stick gauge and not the side which releases air.
3. Watch the screen for the reading of the pressure. Wait until the white plastic sticks stops moving on a stick gauge. Wait until the needle stops moving on a dial gauge.
Repeat the tire pressure check at least twice to get an accurate reading. Then, repeat this process for all four tires plus your spare.
5. Inflate Tires When Necessary
Compare your tire pressure reading to the recommended tire pressure by the manufacturer. Just add enough air to reach the recommended tire pressure. Push the metal stem at the center of valve to release the air if you have added too much. Repeat the process if needed. Reinstall the valve cap on the tire.
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