AAA as well as several other organizations recommend checking your tire pressure about every month. Why so frequently? First and foremost, safety of those in the vehicle. Under-inflation can be responsible for increased difficulty in steering. In the worst case, a severely under-inflated tire can overheat and fail. Secondly cost savings! Under-inflated tires wear out more quickly than properly inflated tires, and are also responsible for wasting your fuel. Oftentimes there are indicators that will go off in your vehicle once your tire pressure gets too low. However by that point your tire is 20% below the recommended inflation - a big enough difference to have safety concerns.
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| Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com |
A tire's recommended pressure is measured in Pounds per Square Inch, or PSI. If you look closely at your tire you will often see what the recommended tire pressure is. You can also find the recommended PSI for tires in the owner's manual for your vehicle. However, many people don't know that the pressure is measured for a cold tire - or a tire that hasn't been 'heated' by being driven on. Checking the PSI on a car with tires that are hot makes the gauge read approximately 5 PSI higher!
Tire pressure goes up and down with the change in seasons. Hot temperatures during the summer makes the air in your tires expand, causing the PSI to go up. Cooler temperatures in the winter makes the PSI go down due to the air contracting inside your tires. For every 10 degree difference (Fahrenheit), your tire pressure goes up or down 1 to 2 PSI. It's always important to know the recommended PSI for your tires and keep a close eye on them to make sure you have a safe trip!
For more tips and helpful information, go to our website
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Sources: Autonet.com, Drivers.com, Exchange.AAA.com, Newsroom.AAA.com
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