Updated October 3, 2024
It’s important to stay safe when behind the wheel. Checking your tire pressure is one way you can protect yourself and those who are riding with you.
Your tires maintain contact with the road. High quality tires that are in good working condition help you accelerate, brake, and stay in control.
Not only is it a good safety measure, it can also extend the lifespan of your tires (which we will talk more about in a minute).
Having your own tire pressure gauge is a good idea. Not every gas station pump is calibrated, and they can’t be trusted all the time.
When should I check my tire pressure?
Checking the air in your tires on a regular basis can help point out possible tire problems and could keep you from being stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire.
How often do your tires need to be checked? We recommend looking at the tire pressure daily.
Most newer vehicles are equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which will prompt the TPMS light to appear on your dashboard when the pressure is low.
If your vehicle isn’t equipped with this, there are some indicators you can look out for. Poor handling and a tire’s side walls being wider at the bottom are some symptoms you may notice.
When a tire has too little or an excessive amount of air, it can lead to uneven tire wear. Under Inflated tires will promote outer tire edge wear. Overinflated tires are just as dangerous, as they can wear out the center of a tire.
More information about why maintaining the right amount of pressure is important can be found in this article we posted.
What are the steps to checking the pressure?
Now that we’ve discussed when and why tire pressure should be checked regularly, let’s go over the steps.
- Verify the correct tire pressure. You can find this information on the door jam on the driver’s side of the vehicle or on the sidewall of the tire.
- Remove the valve stem cap and use a tire pressure gauge to measure the tire pressure. A basic tire gauge will have a stem that pops out and gives you a reading. You may also use a digital gauge, which will give you a digital number.
- Double check the tire pressure. That way you can make sure you don’t have a false reading.
- Replace the valve stem cap. Putting the cap back on after checking your tire pressure can prevent corrosion of the valve stem and TPMS sensor, and help you avoid a costly repair.
What should I do if the tire is low?
Say you are checking the tire pressure and notice one or multiple tires are low. Or maybe you can tell when looking at your vehicle. What do you do?
Tire pressure can decrease with drops in temperature and when you have a flat tire.
If you notice one or all four tires are low, go to a trustworthy auto repair shop and have them confirm that the tires aren’t leaking.
But don’t wait too long to get it checked out, especially if you think you have a flat. Driving on a tire that needs to be repaired or replaced can eventually lead to it blowing out.
HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Michelin and BFGoodrich tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.