subject: How The Weather Can Affect Tire Pressure [print this page] If you have ever lived in the northern states of the United States, or even visited the area during the winter months, you know how the cold can affect your vehicle. Even if it is cold weather with no snow, below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the engine gets cold and can even freeze up after a night or two of freezing weather. Then to get the vehicle started in extreme cold, it has to be left running for five minutes to warm the engine, or the block could crack. Colder temperatures definitely affects the whole car, including the tires.
Temperatures that are mild, with only small fluctuations, do not typically cause concern about the tire pressure on a vehicle. When the temperature outside drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days in a row, then you will notice a drop in the tire pressure, but there is no reason for concern. As along as you are aware that this occurs, you can accommodate by adding three or four pounds, psi, of air. Fact of the matter is that you can simply wait until you take the car back on the road, and the tire pressure will go right back.
Boyle's Law
There is a law in physics that explains this phenomenon and makes it more clear what is actually happening, and it is called Boyle's Law. The Boyle's Law states that when a gas is made cold, it takes up less volume, or the molecules shrink, and that makes the pressure drop. This can be demonstrated with a helium-filled balloon. After the balloon has been filled with helium, which is a gas, cold blast it, or put it in a freezer. The balloon completely collapses, but it is because the gas molecules shrunk, they are still in the balloon. When the balloon is brought back into the warmth, it immediately expands.
Tire Alignment
In auto maintenance, tire alignment is very important, whether your vehicle is subjected to the cold, or not. Any tire alignment should be done by an authorized car repair mechanic, so have it checked when you take the vehicle in for an oil change. Tire pressure can be checked by anyone who has a tire gauge, and a gauge can be found in many discount department stores and car repair shops.
Tire Pressure
After looking at how cold temperatures and mild temperature changes can affect your vehicle and tires, extremely hot weather can have adverse affects on it too. After long running times in hot weather, tire pressure can expand, and it is typically the same in all tires unless there is a leak in one. The same way that the psi went down in freezing weather conditions, in hot weather, the gas molecules expand causing the already hot rubber to expand more. As the tires are expanding, the rubber is stretched thin and can pop if you aren't careful. In the heat, let a few pounds of air out of the tires to reduce the tire pressure. This will allow plenty of room for expansion, and your tires will be protected following this practice.
