How Much Does The Temperature Affect Tire Pressure?

Have you heard other drivers sometimes mention that the temperature outside can often play a big role in your vehicle's tire pressure? Have you wondered whether or not it is true? Well, the truth is that the air temperature does in fact affect your tire's air pressure.

When outside temps change by 10 degrees, your tires will either gain or lose about one pound of pressure. While that may not seem like a lot, if you don't check your tire pressure at least every season it could become a big deal. For example, a properly inflated tire in July when it is 100 degrees outside could be severely low in air pressure when it is December and 10 degrees below zero.

As you can see, checking your tire pressure makes good sense. Not only will it save you money on better fuel mileage and tire wear, but it is also a huge safety issue as well. That said, there are two important tips to keep in mind when it comes to tire pressure.

1. Always check the pressure in your tires when they are cold. That is the only way of achieving a 'true' reading. If you drive around for 30 minutes and then check your pressure you'll find a very different reading altogether. So be sure to check the tire pressure when your tire is cool.

2. Use a tire pressure gage to get a reading. Most drivers will simply eyeball their tires and say, "they're fine", and drive off. But you can't really eyeball a tire and know the exact tire pressure. It can be over or under inflated by 10 psi or more. And if you drive off on a tire that is 10 psi over inflated on a hot summer day, you run a high risk of a tire blowing out.

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