subject: How Important Are Your Tires? [print this page] The tires may be the most mundane parts of a car, but there the only contact between your car and the road. A tire is actually a pneumatic device that supports the vehicles load, acts as a spring, and translates acceleration, braking, and cornering inputs to the driving surface. Tires profoundly influence safety, performance, ride, comfort, and fuel economy. It is not actually your tires that carry the load of your vehicle, but it's the air inside them that does. That's why it's important to check the pressure weekly, or at the very least, once a month. It only takes about a minute or two, and you'll be likely to notice any pressure loss caused by minor punctures before it results in a major problem. The best time to check tire pressure is in the morning when the tires are cold since air expands when it's hot. I, personally, have noticed that my tires loose a significant amount of air in the fall when the air temperatures fluctuate up and down quite a bit. Set your tire pressure, according to the range recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. This information is listed on a label located on the door jam, engine compartment or glove box door. Also check your owner's manual about recommended pressure adjustments for driving a fully loaded vehicle or in extreme temperatures. Inflating your tires at the maximum pressure may improve high-speed performance and fuel economy, since it reduces rolling resistance, but it can also produce a harsher ride and reduce the tires resistance to damage from potholes, bumpy roads and other hazards. Proper tire pressure levels make handling steering and braking safer and easier. The Fixie Chick
