Tire Pressure - What You Should Know

Did you know that there are estimates saying that almost 90% of people in the United States currently own a car? It seems unlikely that all of these people adequately understand how to maintain their car properly. Now is your chance to step out of the crowd and realize the importance of maintaining every component of your vehicle. Anytime that even a minor problem is overlooked it can turn into something major. One of those minor problems is often tire pressure. We all know that the amount of air in a vehicle's tires is important, but we tend to ignore it until it gets too low. This is a mindset that we need to replace.

Tire pressure simply refers to the amount of air inside of your tire. It is usually measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). It is usually recommended that you keep a tire gauge inside of your vehicle at all times so it is easily accessible when you need it. If you check the operator's manual of your vehicle, it most likely recommends that you check your tire air pressure about once a month if not more. Most vehicle owners would tell you that it's a good idea to check your tire pressure about once every 10 days.

So, what's the real problem that arises from incorrect tire pressure? Obviously there are two different scenarios that involve incorrect pressure. The first is having too much air in your tires - this causes undue stress on the sidewalls and the tread of your tires. Too much pressure is pushing out from inside of the rubber and a blowout is much more likely when your tires are overinflated.

The second scenario is having too little air in your tires - this causes your tire to sink. A larger amount of tread will come into contact with the road and may cause overheating. An overheated tire is very likely to cause a blowout.

There are a number of reasons that your tire pressure may vary. The first reason is temperature, which has a very direct affect on the pressure in your tires. Not only will hot air cause you to lose tire pressure faster, but every 10 degree drop in temperature will change the pressure in the atmosphere enough that you will lose about 1 pound per square inch of pressure. Anytime that there are fluctuations in temperature, you need to pay attention to tire pressure or you and your family could be at risk of an accident.

Many people do not know how to determine the right amount of pressure for the tires on their vehicle. The first mistake that is often made is when people look around the rim of their tire to find a number. They often think that the recommended tire pressure is labeled on the tire. However, this is incorrect - the pressure number that is printed into the rubber is almost always the maximum amount of pressure that can safely be used in the tire.

The best way to get the recommended amount of pressure is to look in your owners manual. You can also usually find it on the inside of the driver's door, on the door of the gas tank, or in the glove compartment.

When it comes time to fill up your tires, you should always have a gauge with you. Put a little bit of air in and then check the tire pressure. If you have put in too much, it is okay to press the center of the air valve and let a bit out. It is almost always better to have lower pressure than the recommended amount than it is to have a higher pressure. For instance, if your tire is supposed to have 30 pounds per square inch, it is much safer to have 25 pounds rather than 35 pounds. However, if you want to keep you and your passengers safe, you should always strive to have the optimal amount of tire pressure at all times.

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