The air pressure for car tires should be a common concern for many drivers. However, maintaining accurate air pressure in your tires is important but is often the last issue most drivers think about when caring for their vehicle.
We all know that, without enough air pressure for car tires, you can end up with a flat tire that can ruin your rims or result in rapid tire wear. It can also lead to a blown tire and leave you stranded on the side of the road. If you over inflate your tires, it can ruin the tread and cut the life of your tires in half. What’s more, maintaining the correct air pressure in your tires can improve fuel economy—and save you from having to use your spare tire when in the middle of nowhere.
We will discuss all the basics you need to know about air pressure to maintain a great set of tires that can get you anywhere.
Air pressure varies greatly from car to car, depending on vehicle model, tire size, and other factors. There is no one-size-fits-all number, though the average car needs anywhere between 30 to 35 pounds. The bigger the vehicle, the higher the number will be.
Finding how much air pressure your tire needs is easy to do and there a few ways to check it.
You also need to be able to check the air pressure your tires are carrying around to determine if your car needs air or is packing too much air.
It is recommended by experts to visit a local gas station to use an air compressor with an accurate tire pressure gauge to check the air pressure in each tire at least once a month. You may want to check more often during the summer since increased heat can cause your tires to lose pressure more quickly—and under-inflated tires can be dangerous.
Your tires can leak air without any visible holes and you can be completely unaware that your tire is losing air while you are driving around. In fact, your tires do not need to be punctured to lose air. Simply driving your car day after day can lead to loss of air pressure, resulting in under-inflated tires.
You can purchase a tire pressure gauge for cheap at any auto store and most gas stations have an air compressor handy for quick use if you are in desperate need.
So, let’s discuss the steps to checking the pressure in your tires using a tire gauge.
If you need to fill your tires with air (which you will need to eventually!), it is important you know how to do it properly. It is an easy process once you have learned to check the air pressure the correct way.
Most gas stations have air pumps you can use to fill your tires. Some have a fee to use their air pumps while other gas stations offer free services.
Checking the air pressure in your front and rear tires on a routine basis will help you preserve your tires for much longer with less tire wear. Not only that, but it can prevent expensive and potentially serious accidents and improve fuel economy at the same time. Maintaining your tires is easy and just as important as maintaining the rest of your vehicle!