How much pressure to fill a tire

Imagine you are a ball rolling on the ice, there's no friction between the two surfaces, how much extra force do you need to apply to keep the ball moving? Zero (Thanks, Newton). The same applies to your fuel consumption when it comes to driving on the road. The rolling resistance between your tires and the road significantly affects fuel economy, and by now we should all know the logic behind this, lower tire pressure leads to a larger contact patch, which causes higher rolling resistance, and thus, poor fuel economy.

A Michelin study showed that your tire is accountable for at least 1/5 of your total fuel consumption and a 1-bar of pressure drop (14.5 psi) would increase your fuel consumption by 3-5%.

There are of course circumstances where you want to manipulate your tire pressure to meet specific requirements. Like the aforementioned track race, or if you are driving on sand, mud, etc. However, as a daily commuter, we strongly suggest you regularly check your tire pressure, preferably once a week and anytime you might take a long road trip, and always keep the tires properly inflated! 

(overview of tire properties under different pressure points)

Tire pressure is always a hot topic regarding driving safety, and it's important to keep an eye on the tire pressure to maximize fuel efficiency and safety.

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Recommended Tire Pressure - What Should My Tire Pressure be?

Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure is very important since it helps optimize tire performance and fuel economy while over-inflated tires are just as problematic as under-inflated ones.

In fact, driving with under-inflated tires is one of the biggest causes of tire failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Besides, under-inflated tires can cause many other problems such as wearing out more rapidly, handling poorly and reducing fuel efficiency.

In addition, over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage from road irregularities, and this also creates a bumpier ride.

Overfilling your tires is just as dangerous as under-filling them, so it’s important you know what is recommended for your vehicle.

This article will give you everything that you need know about your recommended tire pressure. These include:

• where to find recommended tire pressure
• reasons that maximum tire pressure is not the best one
• how to check your tire pressure
• signs that your tires might be under-inflated

Buy Pressure Gauge at Amazon

Since tire pressure is so important to your safety and your car’s overall performance, it is important to know which level of tire pressure is right for your vehicle.

In fact, how much air pressure your tires need depends on several factors, including the type of vehicle, the type of tire and the intended use of the vehicle etc.

Air pressure in tires is measured in pounds per square inch or PSI. You can find your tire pressure both inside your car and on the sidewall of the tire.

You could find the manufacturer’s optimum or recommended tire pressure for your car on a sticker in the door jam, or in your owner’s manual. Some car models even place the stickers on the trunk lid, in the console or on the fuel door. For best results, look for a placard on the inside of the driver’s door, like the example in the photo below.

Somewhere on the sidewall of your tire, just below the big, bold letters of the manufacturer, for example, you might have noticed the words ‘Max. Press. 35 PSI.’ (pounds per square inch).

That number tells you the maximum cold pressure needed for your tire to carry its maximum load.

Most typical tires require about 32 to 35 pounds per square inch (PSI) of air, says Rod Tate, owner of highly rated Colony One Auto Center in Stafford, Texas.

Large trucks require much larger tires with PSIs of 50 to 60. Heavy-duty vehicles can go even higher. For example, tire in the picture below requires 41 pounds per square inch of air.

However, the tire’s maximum pressure is NOT necessarily the most suitable pressure for every vehicle upon which the tire can be used (almost all vehicle manufacturers’ recommended tire inflation pressures are less than the tires’ maximum pressure).

You really should follow the recommended pressure printed somewhere inside your car or in the manual rather than the maximum pressure. In the next section, I will explain why.

Buy Pressure Gauge at Amazon

If you insist on inflating your tires to the max PSI, there will be more likely that two things below will happen

• The handling characteristics change

Since tires inflated to the max cannot give as much on the sidewall, you might see superior cornering, but it could be at the risk of your braking threshold. One quick corner and your back end could slide out.

•  The life of your tire decreases

When your tires are inflated too much, the rubber rounds out at the top of the tire when you are driving, and the center will quickly wear out. You will also reduce your traction and you could even cause a blowout.

Therefore, maximum pressure is not the best, rather, recommended pressure is. I need to repeat here that the pressure listed on the sidewall is a maximum pressure only, but not a recommended pressure. Instead, you should use the air pressure recommended in the vehicle’s owner’s manual or tire information placard label.

Therefore, maximum pressure is not the best, rather, recommended pressure is. I need to repeat here that the pressure listed on the sidewall is a maximum pressure only, but not a recommended pressure. Instead, you should use the air pressure recommended in the vehicle’s owner’s manual or tire information placard label.

After knowing the most appropriate pressure for your car tires, you should check whether your tires have such pressure. In addition, checking the pressure of your tires regularly is one of the most important – and most often overlooked – regular maintenance that you should do to ensure your safety and quality of your driving. Monitoring the amount of air in your tires will let you know if you have a small leak and can help you avoid an unexpected flat tire.

Frequently checking your PSI becomes even more important in the fall and winter, when outside temperatures drop and weather conditions fluctuate causing your tires to lose air more quickly. Generally speaking, your tire will gain or lose one PSI for every 10-degree change in temperature, which means if you have a sudden drop of 30 degrees, you could lose three PSI overnight. If your tires were already low, this could cause tire damage, steering problems or even a flat tire.

Some experts recommend that you should check the air pressure every time you refuel; others say once a month is sufficient.

How to check tire pressure properly? Checking tire pressure is easy. You can do it right at home or at the gas station. Just be sure you check the pressure when your tires are cold, or have not been driven in several hours. This will give you the most accurate reading.

The most important piece of equipment you need is an accurate tire pressure gauge. You can find battery-operated digital gauges, or more traditional stick-type gauge found at most gas stations. A good gauge should not set you back more than $15 – a worthwhile investment for a longer life for your tires.

Buy Pressure Gauge at Amazon

Make sure you have your manufacturer’s PSI handy when you are checking your tire pressure, and then follow these steps:

• Remove the end caps on your tires’ air valves (do not lose them!).
• Place the tire pressure gauge into the valve stem and press down quickly to get a reading.
• Check the PSI reading. Compare that to your vehicle’s recommended PSI. (It can often be tricky to get the gauge to press fully onto the valve, resulting in an off reading – so take a few readings to eliminate any anomalies.)
• If the reading is above the recommendation, push in the valve to let out some air (you might have to do this a few times to get it right).
• If the PSI reading is below the recommendation, fill your tire with air until you reach the ideal level (this may also take a few tries).

By checking tire pressure once a month, you will get a good idea how they are performing. If your tires are fairly new and continue to leak air, you should consult your dealer or mechanic. You may have a faulty valve or other damage that is difficult to detect which could unfortunately result in the need to replace the tires completely. But with proactive maintenance, you could catch an issue before it becomes a problem, and just end up needing a small repair.

Often, it is hard to spot an under-inflated tire until it is too late – in other words, it is completely flat. Of course, you could carry a gauge around at all times to measure the pressure, but that is not exactly convenient. Instead, watch for these signs and symptoms of tires that are under-inflated.

• Your car is not handling as well as it usually does

When your tires are under-inflated, your ride can be less smooth than usual. You may even find that it takes longer to brake.

• There are cracks in the tire

When a tire is not inflated properly, it wears down more quickly. If you notice that one or all of your tires are wearing out faster than usual, it may be because they are under-inflated.

• Your steering wheel is shaking or vibrating

Tires that are under-inflated can make your vehicle quiver and shake, which is not a pleasant driving experience. Under-inflation can even cause tires to become misaligned, with comes with it is own variety of problems.

Conclusion

These are all things that you need to know about recommended pressures of your car tires. After reading this article, you will never confuse about the right pressure of your tires and will know how to check it.

Please share your ideas with me if you have other tips for this.

Tire pressure chart by car make

07/23/2021

Tire pressure is an important point during the operation of any vehicle and, in particular, cars. This indicator affects not only the wear rate of products, but also the quality indicators for driving a car, safety and comfort while driving, and the level of fuel fluid consumption. For this reason, every car owner should know how to correctly measure the pressure inside the tires and the tools for this procedure.

Tire pressure measurements

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the unit of measurement for air pressure for tires is 1 atm = 1 kgf / cm2. The value of this value is often equated to another unit - Bar. But in the US, this value is indicated in PSI, where 1 psi \u003d 1 psi. inch. This state of affairs affects the labeling and differences in the interpretation of indicators for different manufacturers. The designation of the maximum allowable pressure is in Kilopascals, where 1 kPa = 6.895psi

At the same time, when discussing the correct selection of the desired pressure value inside the tires, it is worth considering not the brand of tires, but the recommendations from the manufacturer of a particular brand, model and modification of the car. But not vice versa.

Tire Pressure Tool

Of course, special devices are used to understand the correct value and, at least, the current tire pressure reading. Manometers come in different types:

• Pointer refers to the mechanical type of the spring type. The accuracy reaches up to 0.1 units.
• Rack and pinion designed on the basis of a coil spring. Characterized by ease of use.
• Digital is even easier to use with a digital display.

But besides this, other types of devices will also help:

• The indicator cap is a miniature device located on each wheel. Such a device is screwed onto the place of a conventional cap and, depending on the color, the pressure level can be clearly calculated.
• The outer caps are electronic indicators of the pressure and temperature inside the tires. Differs in high accuracy of measurement.

It should be noted separately that tire pressure measurements are carried out before the upcoming trip or after 5-8 hours of vehicle inactivity.

Where are the pressure ratings?

For the convenience of car owners, manufacturers indicate information about the required level of pressure on the front and rear wheels in such a way that you can always check it at the right time. Sometimes reference plates are located on the B-pillar or on the inner cap of the gas tank, as well as on the end of the door on the driver's side.

Effect of seasonality on tire pressure

In addition to the fact that all tires are divided into 3 main types: all-season, summer and winter, the inflation process in summer and winter will differ. This is due to the fact that inside any closed space, a pressure change of 0.1 atm occurs with temperature fluctuations for every 8-10 degrees Celsius.

Summer period

In summer, one should take into account the heating of the road surface, which affects the increase in grip and friction of coated tires. Therefore, in this case, it is important to avoid the likelihood of tire explosions and other emergencies. When inflating tires in summer, the following factors related to tire pressure should be considered:

• pressure increase occurs when the temperature of the surrounding air rises up to 10-15%, therefore, in such situations it is recommended not to "top up" the rubber;
• during control measurements, an increase in the period for equalizing temperature conditions both inside and outside the wheels is taken into account; for this, it is desirable that the car stand at least overnight;
• in the recommendations from the manufacturer, you can always get acquainted with the maximum allowable pressure in the tires of a particular brand of car, here you should take into account not only the season, but also the front and rear wheels.

winter period

The pressure drop in winter is caused by the cooling and cooling of road surfaces. This leads to a corresponding decrease in the stability of the tires on the road while driving. From here follow the basic principles of tire inflation in winter:

• tire inflation and pressure control is carried out with a minimum idle time of 2 hours;
• when leaving warm locations (for example, from a garage), it is necessary to calculate the temperature difference indoors and outdoors, in this case, every 10 degrees in the difference with respect to the normal pressure indicator, it is worth adding 0.1 atm;
• in case of stability in ambient temperature, one should be guided by the recommendations from the manufacturers in winter weather.

Regardless of the level of professionalism in car ownership, experts recommend using a pressure gauge at least once a month and before long trips. If there are frequent temperature fluctuations in the weather in any of the seasons, the interval should be reduced to 2 weeks.

Low pressure

With reduced tire pressures, contact between the wheel and the road surface occurs only at the extreme points. In visual terms, sometimes it is simply impossible to determine this, but this situation leads to the following negative consequences:

• increased load on the lateral tracks of the tread, increased wear;
• deterioration in grip with the road surface, delay in acceleration, increase in braking distance, increase in the likelihood of wear;
• in the presence of high speed modes in the side parts of the tires, there is a wave-like transmission of movement, which leads to the impossibility of stabilizing the car in critical situations, the appearance of destructive vibration of the tire carcass;
• increase in fuel consumption.

High blood pressure

When the required tire pressure is exceeded, the wheels come into contact with the road only in the central part. This entails the following consequences:

• reduced grip, increased wheel stiffness, increased wear on center tracks;
• collision with uneven surfaces leads to the risk of rubber rupture;
• increased noise level, reduced driving comfort.

Different tire pressure

But even more dangerous situations and consequences arise with different pressures in all 4 or at least 2 tires. Indeed, in this case, there is a roll towards a less inflated wheel. In such cases, the consumption of fuel fluid increases up to 10%.

Despite this, attention should be paid to cases in which pressure deviations in car tires by 10-12% help to help out on bumps, when passing surfaces with sand, viscous mud, and wet grass. That is, it is possible to increase the permeability. Pumping in a small range will help while moving on highways at high speeds. Sometimes a slight increase in pressure only on the rear tires allows you to carry heavy loads with the least problems.

Pressure table for different car brands

It is important to note that factory standards today are verified data that you should definitely focus on. They undergo numerous checks and tests, and the level of competition between brands makes it necessary to improve all indicators and the testing process. If you could not find recommendations from your car brand manufacturer, below we bring to your attention a table with the necessary data:

Author: Artem Sapegin (automotive expert, author of numerous articles) adv. rbc.ru

See also

Tires are the only vehicle element that is in constant contact with the road. One of the main indicators of their serviceability is pressure. It affects not only fuel efficiency, but also safety.

As a rule, car manufacturers recommend maintaining tire pressures between 2.0 and 2.8 atm. But in practice there are situations when it is necessary to deviate from this norm.

adv.rbc.ru

Tire pressure should be checked at least once a month, there are several ways to do this. We understand why it is so important to observe the optimal pressure indicator and what it affects.

In this story:

1. The dangers of incorrect tire pressure
2. Incorrect pressure symptoms
3. What should be
4. When to correct
5. How to check
6. How often to check
7. Table for popular car brands in Russia

Why incorrect tire pressure is dangerous

Tire pressure is the resistance with which air "presses" on the inner area of ​​the rubber. Properly inflated tires will last longer, give you better ride quality and improve your driving safety. If the pressure in the tires is too low or they are pumped over, then the car owner runs the risk of facing a number of problems: from buying new tires to the threat of an accident.

Properly inflated tires will last longer (Photo: Global Look Press)

Under-inflated tires

Under-inflated tires are tires that are below the recommended pressure. In this case, the contact patch of rubber with the road increases, which leads to increased friction or rolling resistance. A worn out outer edge of the tread can visually give out such a problem.

Increased friction with the road can cause the tire to overheat, slip and even burst. In addition, low tire pressure leads to:

• excessive wear;
• to poor handling and less accurate car reactions to driver actions;
• to lower fuel economy due to increased resistance;
• to an increased risk of aquaplaning.

Tire pressure too high

When tires are over-inflated, that is, above the manufacturer's recommended rate, the contact patch decreases. As a result, the main friction with the road is taken over by the central part of the tire.

Excessive tire pressure leads to excessive sensitivity to road irregularities and the risk of tire damage, even destruction. Overinflated tires also cause the following:

• the car becomes difficult to handle at high speeds and corners;
• suspension is stronger and harder to work out the load from bumps and bumps;
• due to less grip, the braking distance increases (this is especially dangerous in rain or ice):
• increases the chance of puncture or other damage.

Signs of incorrect tire pressure

Tatyana Eliseeva, an auto expert, international master of sports in motorsport, comments

For flat tires:

• whistle in tight turns and at low speeds;
• if one wheel is flat, the car starts to drive (pull in one direction) along the road;
• in fast corners, a flat tire “bends” - there may be a sound or disassembly.

For overinflated tyres:

• the car gets more nervous in a straight line;
• shakes her on bumps;
• more felt side edge of the wheel in turns;
• there is a pleasant sensation (this should alert) that the car suddenly began to roll well.

Excessive tire pressure leads to excessive sensitivity to road irregularities and the risk of tire damage (Photo: Shutterstock)

What should be the tire pressure

For each car model, the manufacturer sets its own optimal tire pressure. This indicator depends on the mass of the car, the speed of operation, the number of passengers (partial or full boarding), as well as the load on the trunk [1].

The recommended tire pressure can be found in the vehicle owner's manual or on one of the plates/stickers in the passenger compartment. They can be:

• on the driver's door pillar or sill;
• on the glove box door;
• on the back of the gas tank flap;
• on the tailgate.

Tire pressure chart

Tire pressure is measured in several units. In Russia, they usually indicate in kg / cm ² (or atmospheres) and bars (bar). These two indicators are almost equal, which is why they are often used as synonyms:

• 1 bar = 0.986923 atm.

Foreign models often use pounds per square inch (pound per square inch), or psi:

• 1 psi = 0.068948 bar;
• 1 bar = 14.5 psi.

For convenience, car manufacturers can indicate pressure in two units at once - bar and psi. Thus, the need to independently calculate according to the formulas disappears. Otherwise, you can do this in one of the online calculators or check the table of popular values.

Most common tire pressures in bar and psi

2.0 bar	2.1 bar	2.2 bar	2. 3 bar	2.4 bar	2.5 bar	2.6 bar	2.7 bar	2.8 bar
29psi	30psi	32 psi	33 psi	35 psi	36 psi	38 psi	39 psi	41 psi

Tire pressure in summer and winter

Temperature has a significant effect on tire pressure: when it drops, the pressure in the wheels decreases with it. When the temperature drops by 10 °C, the tire deflates by an average of 0.07–0.14 bar or 1 to 2 psi [2].

Temperature has a significant effect on tire pressure (Photo: Shutterstock)

Summer tires typically use manufacturer's recommended readings. But in winter, it is advised to add about 0.2 bar to these figures [3].

Experts also recommend checking and correcting tire pressure at outside temperature. In the cold season, swapping is best done not in a warm garage, but on the street. In summer, before such a manipulation, you should make sure that some of the wheels of the car were not under the scorching sun, while others were in the shade.

When to adjust the pressure: 5 examples

Sometimes the tire pressure needs to be adjusted according to the situation. For example, when the machine is fully loaded or a trailer is towed. For such cases, automakers, as a rule, separately indicate the optimal pressure.

But there are moments that fall into the category of extreme and non-standard (especially if before that the car most often drove around the city). Automotive expert Tatyana Eliseeva analyzed the most common of them.

Long trips on the highway

Causes tires to heat up, especially in summer, so you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations before such a trip. We do not know what we will meet: patched road repairs or heavy rain. After all, for each of these situations, the recommendations will be opposite. Athletes can play with pressure when track conditions are known and engineers can always change the settings. For a long journey, the layman just needs to choose the average.

Off-road

Tires must be bled off, especially on sand. The question is for how much? You can bleed up to 0.7 atm, but a not very experienced motorist can slip the wheels with an inaccurate movement, and if the driver turns the steering wheel sharply (for example, trying to catch on the edge of the track), then the tire can come off the disk. And such cases occur regularly.

On packed snow and ice

At near-zero temperatures on packed snow, ice or sludge for new wheels (velcro or studded) it is better to pump the wheels a little so that water and sludge are squeezed out of the central zone of the contact patch and the tread is better worked. The wheel must be cleared for the tread to work. When it is clogged with snow, the braking distance and traction deteriorate greatly.

If the car has worn wheels, but with an acceptable tread depth for winter tires (4 mm), then you should not hope for the correct operation of the tread. Such a low checker no longer pushes the snow. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the pressure in the wheel, thereby increasing the same contact patch.

Photo: Global Look Press

With a loaded machine

On a country road, the weight of the machine will be an important factor. In this case, we select the pressure according to the load - specific indicators must be viewed on the central pillar of the body. There you will see something like the following recommendation: the more the car is loaded, the higher the pressure in the rear wheels should be.

But a badly broken road can lead to herniations, ruptures and tire damage. Therefore, if we increase the pressure, then we drive on a bad road as calmly and measuredly as possible. Or we slightly deviate from the manufacturer's recommendations and raise the pressure not as much as the manufacturer recommends.

In mountainous terrain

The main factor in changing the behavior of the wheel is not the pressure drop at altitude, but the presence of a large number of sharp turns and long braking. The tire will heat up not only from the loads, but also from the operation of the brake mechanisms. Therefore, the idea that due to low pressure it is necessary to increase the pressure in the tires is wrong, because the temperature of the wheel has a much greater influence in this case.

How to check the tire pressure

The recommended pressure is always given when the tires are cold. This means that the vehicle has not been driven for three hours or has traveled less than 1 mile (or one mile).

There are two ways to check tire pressure: do it yourself or at a workshop. In the first case, it is enough to use a public pump at a gas station or purchase a pressure gauge. This tire pressure measuring device comes in three types:

• Arrow . A simple working mechanism, as a rule, issuing a small error.
• Electronic . Compact, handy digital screen, battery operated.
• Rack or slide-out . Inexpensive, easy to use, but more fragile than other types.

Another option is to install special pressure control caps on each nipple. Such a gadget works as follows: the upper part of the cap is transparent and, depending on the level of pressure, an indicator of three colors appears in it. Green - the pressure is normal, yellow - the tire is flat, red - the pressure has exceeded the norm.

Photo: Shutterstock

The easiest way to monitor tire pressure is with the automatic TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System). Today it is installed on almost all models, and in some countries its presence is a prerequisite for releasing a car from the assembly line.

In these systems, the electronics automatically detect changes in the tire, and if the pressure drops below the recommended value, a warning signal lights up on the on-board computer screen.

There are two types of TPMS:

• Direct. Uses pressure sensors in each wheel, and the on-board computer displays the actual air pressure.
• Indirect. Calculates the size of the wheel and the distance it travels in one revolution. If this indicator changes, the system notifies the driver about the presence of a problem, but without accurate readings of air pressure.

How often to check tire pressure

Car manufacturers recommend checking tire pressure every two weeks, but at least once a month. After all, even under ideal conditions (for example, the car is idle for a long time), the wheels lose about 0.069bar, or 1 psi, per month [4].

The pressure should be monitored before and after a long trip, during a sudden change in temperature (for example, during the first frost or warming), and also after changing tires or driving with a load.

Also, don't forget the spare wheel. Automakers advise servicing it at least as often as the main wheels.

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