Bob’s Quick Tip: Tire Pressure

Bob’s Quick Tip: Tire Pressure

Around this time of year, especially on cold mornings, you’re likely to see that notorious light on your dashboard: The tire pressure light.

The science behind it is simple: As it gets colder, the air molecules in the air get closer together, causing the volume in your tires to shrink and your pressure to drop.

In fact, tire pressure tends to drop about 1 pound for every 10 degrees the temperature drops.

It is important that you fill your tires in the colder weather so your car drives as safely as possible. When under-inflated, it is more difficult to brake and any vehicle is harder to handle and steer with low tires. The additional surface area on the road also increases friction and therefore impacts gas mileage, adding to the cost of not maintaining your car’s tire pressure.

A bigger concern is uneven wear, which diminishes the overall life of your tires. By the time spring comes around you might need to buy a new set of tires after months of rough winter driving with low tires.

A good rule of thumb is to check your pressure once a month, even if your tires don’t look flat. In fact, tires don’t start looking flat until they’ve lost about 50% of their recommended pressure level.

How to Check Your Tire Pressure

It’s pretty simple. You can head to a nearby gas station or use a pressure gauge by holding the device over the valve on your wheel. In most cases a stem will pop out of the gauge and will give you the pressure reading. If you are using a digital reader, the screen should show you the pressure level. Check your manual or the side of your tire for recommended pressure levels.

If the pressure is low, fill your tire up to the appropriate level and screw the stem cap back on.

If you are concerned about your tire pressure or you are frequently noticing low tire pressure, visit your local mechanic.

They will be able to make sure you don’t have a small puncture on your tire or a bad seal when the tire was mounted.

Don’t Forget the Spare

You more than likely have a spare in your car and you probably only see it once in a blue moon. That doesn’t mean that you should neglect it. Occasionally check the condition of your spare, including the air pressure. You don’t want to be caught on the side of the road with a flat spare.

BBack Car Care would be glad to check your tire pressure for you, for free. If you happen to be in for an oil change or virtually any other service, just ask and we will check your pressure and adjust as needed. It’s just another service that our team like to perform to ensure that you are driving a safe car and that you LOVE YOUR CAR AGAIN.

Need to make an appointment? Request an appointment online today or give us a call.