![]() ![]() Not all portable compressors can handle the demand to fill light or heavy-duty truck tires quickly. Just make sure whatever compressor you choose can accommodate the pressure requirements for your tires. They’re small enough to stow in a small corner of the trunk, and many even come with attachments to inflate basket or soccer balls or other recreational items such as inflatable kayaks or swimming pool toys. Just use the appropriate air chuck and the compressor will quickly fill the tire to the desired pressure.Ī portable compressor that plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or power outlet is handy and convenient. If the reading on your air pressure gauge doesn’t match the recommended air pressure on the tire or door sticker, or you receive a low-pressure warning from your TPMS, you have a couple of choices to fill your tires to their correct PSI.ĭrivers that have a home workshop or garage equipped with a traditional air compressor have it easy. Pay attention to any warnings you receive from your vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system(TPMS) that show up on your instrument panel and make the proper adjustments as soon as possible. Overinflated tires can also heat up faster and could bubble or burst while driving. In severe cases, underinflation can lead to blowouts or rims slicing through the tire-both extreme safety hazards. Underinflated tires will sag and flatten out, causing a loss in fuel economy. Maintaining proper tire inflation is vital. In all cases, if you’re heading out on a long road trip it’s critical that you check your tire pressure before leaving. If any of these circumstances apply to you, it’s best to keep a close on your tires for the trip duration. When mixed with abnormally hot atmospheric conditions and old or worn tires with improper inflation, that can lead to a hazardous situation. Hard uses such as towing, hauling heavy loads or extended high-speed travel can cause severe increases in tire temperature and pressure. Although most tires display tire inflation information on their sidewalls, most vehicle manufacturer’s and the NHSTA recommend owners adhere to the information found on the official Tire Loading and Inflation sticker located on the driver’s side front door jamb. Therefore, it’s crucial to check your tire pressure regularly, particularly for drivers who live in regions with wide temperature swings. As a rule of thumb, tires lose or gain about one PSI for every ten-degree change in the outside temperature in addition to any heat gain from driving. If you check tire pressure after driving, especially at higher speeds, the tires and the air in them can heat up and display a temporary increase in pressure. It’s best to check tire pressure in the morning when the tires are cool. The tire pressure will be displayed either on the stick, dial indicator or digital readout of your pressure gauge. Remove the screw-on cap from the valve stem (these caps are often missing on older tires) and press the gauge’s fitting on the valve stem in a single, firm motion. Regardless of type, checking your tire pressure is a simple process. Easy to use thanks to their digital readout, quality models are available from less than $10 to highly specialized units that sell for hundreds of dollars. Old school works, but widely available battery-powered digital gauges are quite common. A dial gauge utilizes a dial face that often provides an easier-to-read level of measurement. The stick type, sometimes referred to as a “pen” or “pencil gauge,” due to its similarity in size and shape, displays the tire’s pressure on a stick marked with PSI or kPa numbers. GettyĪnalog gauges generally come in two styles, stick and dial. Analog tire gauges, either dial or pencil type, offer good, inexpensive and accurate tire pressure readings. There are two primary types of tire air pressure gauges: analog and digital. ![]() In countries using metric measurements, the air pressure may be expressed as kPa, or kilopascal. The numbers may be different for front and rear tires and will appear as PSI, pounds of per square inch. (According to the NHSTA, the correct pressure for your tire is what the vehicle manufacturer has listed, NOT what is listed on the tire.) Examine it precisely, noting any additional pertinent information. You can find proper inflation levels on a sticker placed on the driver’s side doorjamb or in your owner’s manual. With assistance from Josh Chalofsky, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of tire sales and service website, here are some tips on how to properly check the pressure on your vehicle’s tires and inflate them. Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires is key to prolonging their life, ensuring a safe ride and preserving fuel economy. Automotive tires have come a long way in terms of quality and durability in the last thirty years, but they still require proper inflation to deliver optimal fuel economy, longevity and safety. ![]()
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