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How To Check Tire Pressure
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Published: October 19, 2006
Tire pressure is the level of air in the tire providing it with load-carrying capacity, according to the Department of Transportation.
Tire pressure can affect the performance of your vehicle. Since tires inevitably lose air pressure over time, the best way to keep them from unexpectedly going flat is to check them at least once a month. The benefits are double what you might expect; poor tire inflation can lead to inefficient fuel economy and also can lead to potentially dangerous driving conditions, such as blowouts.
Tools
1. Tire-pressure gauge – digital or analog
2. Source of air (usually available at many gas stations)
Steps to Checking Tire Pressure
1. In order to properly determine tire pressure, the tires need to be cold. Cold tires refer to tires which have not been driven on for at least three hours. If you try to check the pressure of warm tires, you may get an inaccurate reading. This is because driving causes the air pressure within tires to increase. If you have to check the air pressure soon after driving on your tires, you will need to compensate for the extra pressure
2. To determine the recommended tire pressure, refer either to the owner's manual, the tire information placard or the certification label.
3. Most tire-pressure gauges measure pressure by pounds per square inch (PSI). According to the Department of Motor Vehicle Transportation (DMV), PSI is either measured by notches on an analog tire-pressure gauge or by number reading on a digital gauge.
4. Locate the plastic valve on the tire you plan to check first, remove it and put it in a safe place so you do not misplace it.
5. Place the gauge onto the valve stem and wait a few seconds to acquire an accurate reading. Replace the plastic valve and record the reading – you will need it later. To maintain optimal tire inflation, repeat this procedure for all four tires. Note which tires need the most air.
Steps to Adjusting Tire Pressure
1. If any of the tires are over inflated, simply remove the plastic valve and release air until it has reached the recommended PSI. Note the difference between the over-inflated tire and the recommended PSI. This is the amount of air you will need to remove.
2. If any of the tires are under-inflated, locate a source of air, usually found at gas stations in the form of a hose. Note the difference between the PSI of the under-inflated tire and the recommended PSI. This is the amount you will need to replace.
3. Remove the plastic cap from the valve. Place the hose directly over the valve (as you would with the tire-pressure gauge). Once there is enough air in the tire, remove the hose and replace the valve or take an additional reading to make sure the tires have been adequately inflated.
Sources:
How to Check Tire Pressure. eDriver, Inc. 19 October 2006. http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/check-tire-pressu re.php/
How to Check Tire Pressure. eHow, Inc. 19 October 2006. http://www.ehow.com/how_112746_check-tire-pressure .html/
Tire Safety: Everything Rides on It. U.S. Department of Transportation. 19 October 2006. http://nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/tiresafety/rideson it/brochure.html/
Tire pressure can affect the performance of your vehicle. Since tires inevitably lose air pressure over time, the best way to keep them from unexpectedly going flat is to check them at least once a month. The benefits are double what you might expect; poor tire inflation can lead to inefficient fuel economy and also can lead to potentially dangerous driving conditions, such as blowouts.
Tools
1. Tire-pressure gauge – digital or analog
2. Source of air (usually available at many gas stations)
Steps to Checking Tire Pressure
1. In order to properly determine tire pressure, the tires need to be cold. Cold tires refer to tires which have not been driven on for at least three hours. If you try to check the pressure of warm tires, you may get an inaccurate reading. This is because driving causes the air pressure within tires to increase. If you have to check the air pressure soon after driving on your tires, you will need to compensate for the extra pressure
2. To determine the recommended tire pressure, refer either to the owner's manual, the tire information placard or the certification label.
3. Most tire-pressure gauges measure pressure by pounds per square inch (PSI). According to the Department of Motor Vehicle Transportation (DMV), PSI is either measured by notches on an analog tire-pressure gauge or by number reading on a digital gauge.
4. Locate the plastic valve on the tire you plan to check first, remove it and put it in a safe place so you do not misplace it.
5. Place the gauge onto the valve stem and wait a few seconds to acquire an accurate reading. Replace the plastic valve and record the reading – you will need it later. To maintain optimal tire inflation, repeat this procedure for all four tires. Note which tires need the most air.
Steps to Adjusting Tire Pressure
1. If any of the tires are over inflated, simply remove the plastic valve and release air until it has reached the recommended PSI. Note the difference between the over-inflated tire and the recommended PSI. This is the amount of air you will need to remove.
2. If any of the tires are under-inflated, locate a source of air, usually found at gas stations in the form of a hose. Note the difference between the PSI of the under-inflated tire and the recommended PSI. This is the amount you will need to replace.
3. Remove the plastic cap from the valve. Place the hose directly over the valve (as you would with the tire-pressure gauge). Once there is enough air in the tire, remove the hose and replace the valve or take an additional reading to make sure the tires have been adequately inflated.
Sources:
How to Check Tire Pressure. eDriver, Inc. 19 October 2006. http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/check-tire-pressu re.php/
How to Check Tire Pressure. eHow, Inc. 19 October 2006. http://www.ehow.com/how_112746_check-tire-pressure .html/
Tire Safety: Everything Rides on It. U.S. Department of Transportation. 19 October 2006. http://nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/tiresafety/rideson it/brochure.html/
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