Tire Pressure Tips
Checking your tire pressure is one of those nagging little responsibilities that
you keep putting off, but is actually a pretty important checkpoint for making sure your car is safe and operating properly. Its good to do regular visual checks, but that will really only help you spot a flat tire (which are pretty hard to miss). In order to catch your tires as they start to sag, youll have to make a more official check with an actual pressure gauge. This is something you can easily do yourself. Here are some tips:
Nitrogen vs. Compressed Air
To really understand tire pressure, it helps to know what your tires are filled with in the first place. Most tires are filled with compressed air. But some tire retailers are now filling their customers tires with nitrogen. For those who dont know their chemistry, nitrogen is just dry air with the oxygen removed (air is 79% nitrogen already). And with nitrogen in place of any oxygen in your tires, less air is able to escape and your tire pressure will stay higher for longer. However this isnt the only factor that determines the pressure of your tires. There are many other possible sources for leaks in areas like the tire/rim interface, valve, valve/rim interface and the wheel.
Buy a good pressure gauge
Its a smart idea to invest in a quality pressure gauge. Its also smart to keep it in your glovebox, rather than your toolbox. That way if you ever need to spontaneously check your tire pressure, you dont have to rely on a nearby gas station to supply you with a gauge. Often times the pressure gauge youll find at a gas station is worn, and less accurate than one that you purchase and keep for yourself.
What is good pressure?
Its one thing to know when your tire pressure is too low, but how do you know when its just right? Can it be too high? Lots of people arent sure where to set the pressure of their tires, and a good place to start is the recommendation made by the manufacturer of the tire. You can find this measurement somewhere on the car. It used to always be located on a sticker inside the drivers side door, but now some models have it located on the back of the gas filler door. It could also be located in the owners manual. Some manufacturers give a range of ideal tire pressure, or theyll give you two different recommendations, depending on the vehicles load. Anywhere in between these numbers should be safe.
The Tire Check Checklist
Checking your tires is as easy as one, two, three:
1. For the most accurate pressure reading, always remember to check your tires when theyre cold. A good rule of thumb is to check them at least three hours after theyve been driven.
2. The actual check of the tires is fairly simple. All you have to do is insert the pressure gauge into the valve stem, and wait for the gauge to pop out and show the measured psi number (psi stands for pounds per square inch). Youll hear a hiss, which means air is escaping. But its not likely that it will affect the current read of the gauge.
3. Once youve got your psi number, compare it with the manufacturers recommended number.
If its above the desired number, release air from the tires until it matches. If below the desired number, add air until it matches.
As you can see, checking your tire pressure isnt exactly rocket science. Its finding the time to do it thats the real trick.
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by: Insurance Hunter
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