subject: Why You Need To Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly [print this page] One of the most important things to do when you want to safely keep your car on the road is to take care of your tires. One way to take care of your tires so they last a long time is by monitoring the air pressure. Not only will monitoring the air pressure help you have a longer road life for them, but it will mean that you'll have less of a chance of getting a flat tire, or being in an accident because of bald tires. Checking the tire pressure is easy to do, and it can be done in just a few seconds.
Check the Tires Monthly
To check the tire pressure, you need a tire pressure gauge to measure it. The gauge will have a device that sticks out and will give you the reading for the tire. The way to do this is to remove the cover from the stem on the tire. Then, place the gauge directly over it and press down so the opening pushes out of the measuring device. Do you have the correct psi that is recommended by the tire manufacturer? If so, put the cap back on tightly and move to the next tire. Check all four tires each time since it only takes a few seconds and each tire should be the same amount.
The temperature during the season can change, which can also change the pressure in your tires. The hot summer days will make a tire's air pressure look high, while cold weather might make it look deflated. When you don't know what the air pressure is by looking, just check it. Check it regularly so that the tires will always be at the correct pressure.
Check the Tires When They Look Low
When you don't check the air pressure regularly, it can get too low. Low tire pressure can do a lot of harm to your car, but especially the tires. When they aren't inflated correctly, then they will wear heavily and not get the life expectancy that was on the manufacturer's suggestion. They could also wear unevenly, causing your car to handle poorly, even in good conditions. A car without the correct pressure also has a higher chance of getting a flat tire from an object such as a nail, stick, or another sharp object. A properly inflated tire would be able to repel sharp things easier, but maybe not all of the time.
Check at the Change of a Season
If you can't take the time to check your air pressure monthly, then it needs to be done seasonally. The weather will effect the tires and how much air is in them, so you need to make adjustments according to the season. And, there will naturally be a dissipation of air, so it needs to be added gradually in order to keep the levels up. Air can be put in at any service center or gas station, usually for a few quarters, or even for free. If you don't know how to do it, ask a service rep at a car center and they could do it for you for a small fee, or they could show you how to do it if you ever wanted to know how for the future.
