How to Find the Recommended Tire Pressure for your Car
If you're like many of us, you've experienced the frustration of starting your car on a chilly winter morning only to be greeted by a low tire pressure alert. You hurriedly locate an air compressor, diligently fill up the tires until the warning disappears, and continue on your journey. However, have you ever wondered what the optimal tire pressure for your vehicle should actually be? The truth is, monitoring your tires and maintaining the correct tire pressure can contribute significantly more to your vehicle's performance than you might expect.
How to test tire air pressure
If your vehicle does not have a tire pressure moderating system (TPMS), or you are filling up tires on a trailer or some other machinery, you need to know how to test tire air pressure. To do this you need a tool called a tire gauge. Many air compressors have built in gauges that let you monitor the pressure of a tire as you fill it. You can also use a pen stylus gauge (pictured below) by pressing the rounded end to the valve stem and reading the resulting psi. A psi between 30-35 is suitable for most vehicles, but it is important to fill to the correct psi, so you avoid the negative effects of incorrect inflation.
How to correctly fill your tires
The process of filling your tires simple! Here are a few simple steps to help you fill up an get on the road:
1. Remove all the caps from the valve stems and keep them in a safe spot.
2. Attach the air compressor nozzle to the valve stem and secure tightly so that no air leaks from the stem.
3. Turn on the air compressor. (If you hear air escaping, turn the compressor off and tighten the nozzle until no air leaks out.)
4. If no air escapes keep the air compressor on and fill your tires to the correct psi. (If your vehicle does not have a TPMS, use a manual gauge to check the psi every 10-15 seconds.)
5. Turn off the compressor and detach the nozzle from the valve.
6. Check that the correct psi has been reached and replace the stem caps.
Benefits of correct tire pressure
According to www.sciencedirect.com, during a study done on 275 randomly selected vehicles, Pearce and Hanlon found that keeping the recommended tire pressure in your tires could result in “increased safety by decreasing all crashes and saving more than 100 lives per year, reduced petroleum consumption by over a billion gallons/year, which would provide over $4 billion in economic savings for US consumers that could in part be recouped in retail/auto-care facilities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13.5 million tons and automobile pollution, and enhance national security” (Pearce & Hanlon, 2007).
Negative effects of incorrect tire pressure
If your tires are not filled to the correct amount, they are either overinflated or underinflated. Overinflation and underinflation can lead to several adverse effects. If your tires are overinflated, they will wear down the middle leaving the outsides more intact. Overinflation will cause a bouncy and rough ride. Underinflation makes your tires wear more on the outsides which can lead to decreased fuel efficiency and blown out tires.
Checking air pressure often
At Kempton Chevrolet, our service specialists recommend checking your tires once a month to ensure that they have the correct psi. It is also a good idea to check your tires before driving long distances to optimize fuel economy and tire wear.
Tire pressure moderating system
In the year 2000, a law was passed called the TREAD Act requiring manufactures to build tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Most vehicles over the year of 2008 have a TPMS. This system allows for you to monitor the air pressure in your tires and should alert you if the psi of your tires drops below a certain point. However, it does not give you the optimal pressure for your tires.
Difference between nitrogen and regular air
Nitrogen is an alternative option to the air supplied regular old air compressor. Air is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and a combination of other elements. Nitrogen costs a bit more than air, but it offers a key advantage. Unlike regular air, pure nitrogen does not fluctuate with temperature changes. So instead of waking up on that chilly winter morning and scrambling to find an air compressor, you can stop by your local coffee shop instead!
A Call to Action: Prioritizing Tire Maintenance for Safety, Savings, and Environmental Impact
In light of the benefits associated with maintaining recommended tire pressure, it is important to prioritize regular tire checks and maintenance. By doing so, you can enhance your safety on the road, contribute to significant economic savings, reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and even strengthen national security. If you have any further questions or require assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our dedicated service department at Kempton Chevrolet. Our team of professionals is here to ensure that your service needs are met, providing you with a reliable and enjoyable driving experience.
If your vehicle does not have a tire pressure moderating system (TPMS), or you are filling up tires on a trailer or some other machinery, you need to know how to test tire air pressure. To do this you need a tool called a tire gauge. Many air compressors have built in gauges that let you monitor the pressure of a tire as you fill it. You can also use a pen stylus gauge (pictured below) by pressing the rounded end to the valve stem and reading the resulting psi. A psi between 30-35 is suitable for most vehicles, but it is important to fill to the correct psi, so you avoid the negative effects of incorrect inflation.
How to correctly fill your tires
The process of filling your tires simple! Here are a few simple steps to help you fill up an get on the road:
1. Remove all the caps from the valve stems and keep them in a safe spot.
2. Attach the air compressor nozzle to the valve stem and secure tightly so that no air leaks from the stem.
3. Turn on the air compressor. (If you hear air escaping, turn the compressor off and tighten the nozzle until no air leaks out.)
4. If no air escapes keep the air compressor on and fill your tires to the correct psi. (If your vehicle does not have a TPMS, use a manual gauge to check the psi every 10-15 seconds.)
5. Turn off the compressor and detach the nozzle from the valve.
6. Check that the correct psi has been reached and replace the stem caps.
Benefits of correct tire pressure
According to www.sciencedirect.com, during a study done on 275 randomly selected vehicles, Pearce and Hanlon found that keeping the recommended tire pressure in your tires could result in “increased safety by decreasing all crashes and saving more than 100 lives per year, reduced petroleum consumption by over a billion gallons/year, which would provide over $4 billion in economic savings for US consumers that could in part be recouped in retail/auto-care facilities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13.5 million tons and automobile pollution, and enhance national security” (Pearce & Hanlon, 2007).
Negative effects of incorrect tire pressure
If your tires are not filled to the correct amount, they are either overinflated or underinflated. Overinflation and underinflation can lead to several adverse effects. If your tires are overinflated, they will wear down the middle leaving the outsides more intact. Overinflation will cause a bouncy and rough ride. Underinflation makes your tires wear more on the outsides which can lead to decreased fuel efficiency and blown out tires.
Checking air pressure often
At Kempton Chevrolet, our service specialists recommend checking your tires once a month to ensure that they have the correct psi. It is also a good idea to check your tires before driving long distances to optimize fuel economy and tire wear.
Tire pressure moderating system
In the year 2000, a law was passed called the TREAD Act requiring manufactures to build tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Most vehicles over the year of 2008 have a TPMS. This system allows for you to monitor the air pressure in your tires and should alert you if the psi of your tires drops below a certain point. However, it does not give you the optimal pressure for your tires.
Difference between nitrogen and regular air
Nitrogen is an alternative option to the air supplied regular old air compressor. Air is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and a combination of other elements. Nitrogen costs a bit more than air, but it offers a key advantage. Unlike regular air, pure nitrogen does not fluctuate with temperature changes. So instead of waking up on that chilly winter morning and scrambling to find an air compressor, you can stop by your local coffee shop instead!
A Call to Action: Prioritizing Tire Maintenance for Safety, Savings, and Environmental Impact
In light of the benefits associated with maintaining recommended tire pressure, it is important to prioritize regular tire checks and maintenance. By doing so, you can enhance your safety on the road, contribute to significant economic savings, reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and even strengthen national security. If you have any further questions or require assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our dedicated service department at Kempton Chevrolet. Our team of professionals is here to ensure that your service needs are met, providing you with a reliable and enjoyable driving experience.
