Are you wondering how often your car tires need air? Proper tire maintenance is essential for safe driving, but it can be hard to keep track of when you should check the pressure in your tires. In this blog post, we’ll explain why it’s important to check tire pressure regularly and provide some tips on how often you should check your tires.
With undamaged tires, you will want to check on, and air up your tires at least once per month. This will help you catch any issues with the tires, and make sure that your tires are always running at the optimal tire pressure. If your tires are damaged (and leaking air), you may find yourself airing up your tires daily, or even multiple times a day.
Why Tire Air Pressure Matters
The air pressure in your car’s tires affects the performance of both the vehicle and the driver. When your tires are properly inflated, they will have better traction and handle more easily, making them safer to drive on.
Additionally, when the air pressure in your tires is too low or too high, it can lead to uneven tire wear, which can mean replacing your tires more often than necessary.
Lastly, checking your tire pressure regularly can also help with fuel efficiency since underinflated or overinflated tires can reduce mileage per gallon (MPG).
How Often You Should Check Your Tires
Experts recommend that drivers check their tire pressure at least every month or so—even if there isn’t a noticeable change in performance. The best way to check tire pressure is with a tire pressure gauge; however, many newer cars come equipped with a built-in warning system that will alert you when a tire becomes significantly under or overinflated.
It’s also important to note that different climates can affect the air pressure in your tires; colder weather will cause the air in the tires to contract while warmer weather causes it to expand. If you live in an area where temperatures fluctuate drastically between seasons, you may want to check your tire pressures more often than just monthly.
Finally, always make sure that any time you’re adding air into your car’s tires that they are cold (not been driven on for at least three hours) as hot tires will give an inaccurate reading. This means it’s best practice not to top up tire pressures at gas stations!
What is the proper tire pressure for a car?
The number you are normally hoping to achieve will be 35 PSI. For optimal performance, it’s important to keep tires inflated to the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch). This number can vary depending on the brand, size, and vehicle type.
Fortunately, you don’t need to guess; most car owners can find out their specific requirements in the owner’s manual or by looking at the markings inside the tire itself.
Are there times you should have a lower PSI in your tires?
Lower pressure can provide more traction on irregular surfaces such as mud, sand or gravel by increasing the contact patch between the tire and the ground. This also helps to absorb shock from any bumps or dips and reduces damage to the tire’s sidewall, which can occur at high PSI.
Additionally, many of today’s newer cars come with low-profile tires specifically designed for a smoother ride on regular roads. These require lower PSIs than other vehicles for safety reasons so as not to unduly stress the sidewalls – particularly when carrying heavier loads.
Conclusion
Checking and maintaining proper air pressure in your car’s tires is essential for safe driving and optimal performance from both the vehicle and the driver.
While we recommend checking your tire pressures every month or so—or more frequently if temperatures fluctuate drastically where you live—you should always use a reliable gauge like this one! Properly maintained tires are key for keeping yourself and others safe on the road!
