subject: Tire Pressure For Beginners [print this page] Getting the air pressure checked in your tires is very important. Many beginners would be surprised to know that many other things, aside from deflated tires, can result from your not having the correct air pressure. Having the proper air pressure in your tires is very important, so make sure that you routinely check your tire pressure.
By maintaining the correct tire pressure you can see many benefits, such as increase in the life of your tires, you can save money at the pump, enhanced vehicle handling and accident prevention. For these reasons alone, it is pertinent that you check your tires often and not just when they look to be deflating. You can be driving around with the improper tire pressure and not even know it.
Make it a Habit to Check Air Pressure
A lot of people do not know that tires do lose pressure each day. Drivers generally do not pay special attention to their tires unless something has happened. However, the tires are an integral part of the mechanics of a vehicle and should not be neglected. You should check you air pressure each time you need to make a trip to the gas station; every other trip is sufficient if you want to be on the conservative side. This practice is a sure-fire way to ensure that you maintain the recommended air pressure. Permeation is the process by which tires can lose a pound or two of air each day in colder months and in warmer months a lot more. In addition, flexing can also impact the air pressure in your tires.
How to Locate Tire Pressure Information
There are several places that air pressure information for your particular vehicle can be found. The obvious place is the owner's manual. However, there are a couple other places where this information can be located. The fuel door, doorpost and in some models the glove box door will display not only recommended air pressure by the manufacturer but also the cold tire pressure, maximum vehicle load and the tire size. If you cannot decipher this information, you can visit any tire retailer and they will be able to tell you the correct tire pressure for you vehicle.
How to Check Tire Pressure
In order to check the air pressure in your tires you need a small tool called an air gauge. Many cost only a couple of dollars and depending on where you get your car serviced, a technician may provide one for free. Do not assume that you can check the tire pressure just by looking at it or kicking it. In addition, the air gauges that are provided at service stations are usually not accurate due to over-exposure and/or misuse.
First you want to make sure that the tires are cold. A cold tire or cold pressure is a tire that has not been driven a mile yet. It is best that you check the pressure before you leave the home. After you have checked the air pressure, make sure that you tighten the valve caps just enough to keep out moisture and dirt. Valve caps also ensure that you do not consistently lose air pressure.
