| Keeping the recommended air pressure in your tires | | | | that your car is unloaded while doing the check. |
| will provide you with safer driving and better fuel | | | | Weight in the car will give you inaccurate pressure |
| efficiency. Especially when gas prices are going up, in | | | | value |
| difficult weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice; tire | | | | First, find out the recommended pressure for your |
| pressure can make a difference when driving. | | | | tires. It is usually displayed on the sticker on the |
| Checking the pressure is simple, everything you need | | | | driver's side door or in your car owner's manual. You |
| is a good quality tire pressure gauge and a source of | | | | shouldn't over inflate your tires as they wear out |
| air to inflate the tire to proper pressure. You can | | | | more quickly. Under inflating them wears out the side |
| choose between digital and standard tire gauge. | | | | of the tire and is a safety hazard. Try to keep the |
| Digital ones are usually very accurate and have the | | | | tire pressure within 5 PSI of recommended value. |
| advantage of an easy to read backlit screen. The | | | | Now, locate the tire valve and remove the |
| source of air can be air compressor at the gas | | | | protective cap. Place the gauge on the valve stem, |
| station or you can get one for yourself, it can always | | | | try to keep it even. You will hear some air escape, |
| come in handy. Do not rely on the gas station's air | | | | but if you've placed the gauge right it should stop |
| machine gauge, as it is usually beat and inaccurate, so | | | | immediately. Press it firmly and you will get a reading, |
| have your own gauge to ensure proper PSI for your | | | | either by blowing out a metered stick or a needle on |
| tires. | | | | a traditional gauge, or a number reading on a digital |
| Be sure to check your tire pressure while the tires | | | | model. |
| are cold. That means they should not have been | | | | If the pressure is low, inflate your tire and recheck |
| driven on for at least three hours. If they are hot, | | | | the pressure. If it's too high, let some air out by the |
| add some excess pressure (5-10 PSI) to compensate | | | | air bleed valve on your gauge if it has one, or by |
| for the increased pressure from the hot air inside. It | | | | moving the gauge until you hear the air escaping. |
| will normalize when the tires cool down. Also be sure | | | | For the remaining tires, repeat the last two steps. |