Car Talk Service Advice: Tire Pressure What is this? Most vehicles list tire pressure requirements on one of the door posts, most often the drivers. Tire pressure is a measure of the amount of air in a vehicles tires, in pounds per square inch. The required service involves checking the tires pressure with a pressure gauge, at least monthly, if not more frequently. Should I do this service when its recommended? Yes. Absolutely. Why do I have to do this? Having the proper tire pressure is a crucial safety issue. Next to the brakes, the tires are the most important safety devices on your car. Incorrect tire pressure will compromise cornering, braking and stability. And in the worst-case scenario, improper tire pressure can lead to tire failure — and a serious accident. Incorrect tire pressure also will affect your comfort, fuel economy and tire life. What happens if I dont do this? If tire pressure is too high, then less of the tire touches the ground. As a consequence, your car will bounce around on the road. And when your tires are bouncing instead of firmly planted on the road, traction suffers and so do your stopping distances. Youll also feel a decrease in ride comfort. (Hint: If you notice that every tie you own has coffee on it, check your tire pressure. It may be too high.) If tire pressure is too low, then too much of the tires surface area touches the ground, which increases friction between the road and the tire. As a result, not only will your tires wear prematurely, but they also could overheat. Overheating can lead to tread separation — and a nasty accident. One sign of low tire pressure is if your tires squeal when cornering. And you need to check your tire pressure even if your tires arent leaking. Why? Because tire pressure also changes with the temperature outside. Tire pressure decreases by about 1 pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outside air temperature. So if you last had your tire pressure checked in July, when it was 80 degrees outside, and its now January — and the temperature is really low — your tires may be under inflated by 10 pounds, which is dangerous.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:00:00 +0000
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