Keeping your tires inflated to the correct pressure is important for safe driving because it helps your car grip the road better and makes it easier to handle. It also means you could save on gas and your tires will last longer since they’ll wear out evenly.
Here are 10 steps to understand tire pressure:
- Know the Recommended Pressure: Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the sticker inside the driver’s door for the recommended tire pressure.
- Identify the Type of Tire: Understand if your tires are standard, performance, or heavy-duty, as this can affect the recommended pressure.
- Get a Reliable Tire Pressure Gauge: Purchase a digital or manual tire pressure gauge to measure the pressure accurately.
- Check Tire Pressure When Cold: Measure the tire pressure when the tires are cold, ideally in the morning, as driving heats up the tires and can give a false reading.
- Remove the Valve Cap: Unscrew the cap on the tire valve stem to access the valve.
- Use the Pressure Gauge: Press the gauge onto the valve stem firmly until you get a reading. Digital gauges will display the pressure, while manual gauges will pop out a measurement stick.
- Compare with Recommended Pressure: Compare the reading from the gauge to the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle.
- Inflate or Deflate as Needed: If the tire pressure is too low, add air using an air compressor. If it’s too high, release air by pressing the valve stem.
- Recheck the Pressure: After adjusting, recheck the tire pressure to ensure it matches the recommended level.
- Replace Valve Caps and Monitor Regularly: Screw the valve caps back on and check your tire pressure regularly, at least once a month and before long trips.
