We here at Scott’s Fort Collins Auto know that your car can be confusing. There is so much to remember with the different fluids, the tires, and the engine components. If you’ve wondered how often you should check tire pressure and really just how to go about it, here’s help.
Many people think that unless their tires are punctured, the tires will continue to have the same amount of air as was put in them. However, this is not the case. Tires begin to lose air over time which will mean tire pressure will be altered. Checking this means that you will have safety when going on rough roads or long trips. Tire pressure is vital to the life of your tires as well. Running on improperly filled tires can lead to tire weakness or rupture which can lower the safety of your family’s trip. By checking tire pressure on a regular basis, you can extend the life of the tire and help keep your family safe.
All four tires, plus the spare, should be checked on a monthly basis. While you can check more often, you shouldn’t go longer than a month before your next tire pressure check. This means that you may want to pick a day you can remember easily, such as a birthday or anniversary, and check every month on that date. Mark a calendar or set a reminder on your smart phone. In fact, there are some apps on the market that can help store all the information you may need such as PSI pressure and how many miles your tires have gone between pressure checks. Check the Google Play store to see some of these applications.
To check your tire pressure you will need a tire gauge. These are found in any auto parts store. After you get a tire gauge make sure to keep it in a handy location, such as your vehicle’s glove box or center console. When you go to check your tire pressure, take it out and go toward the first tire you’re checking.
On the tire should be a valve stem, a protruding piece that is capped. Uncap the valve stem and place the tire gauge over it. There should be either a digital reading, if you got that type, or a stick that shoots out that tells you the tire pressure. Make a note of this tire pressure. Do this for all four tires, plus your spare, and then fill your tires as needed with air. You may need to take several tire pressure tests to insure that you have all your tires filled properly. Don’t rush the procedure, as tire pressure is important to get right.
Yes, tires should be what is termed “cold” when you check the tire pressure. No, this does not mean the air temperature should be cold or the tires need to be cold to the touch. It means that you shouldn’t have driven on them for at least three hours. Even the shortest driving distance can mean that you will not get an accurate reading. Best case scenario? Wait until after you are home for the day and check them before you head out in the morning.
That leaves the entire evening for them to settle so that you can get a more accurate reading.
Always fill your tires with the PSI that should be on your vehicle’s recommendation. The PSI listed on the tire is actually the maximum permissible and isn’t what is recommended for all vehicles. You can find the PSI for your vehicle in your owner’s manual, on your tire information label, or you can go online and find it.
If you ever have any automotive questions or if you have an issue that you’d like to see resolved, we are here to help. From engine noises to something as simple as tire pressure, we are going to listen and resolve your problems. Come by 1900 E Lincoln Avenue or just give us a call at 970-692-5313 and we’ll try our best to give you the best in customer service. Scott’s Fort Collins Auto is here for you.
A quick question: When was the last time you checked the tire pressure for your spare tires? The spare tire is usually located in the trunk of your car, for the pickup truck, the tire will be mounted underneath the undercarriage.
It’s out of sight and very easy for us to forget the existence of spare tires until the time you need them. How to take care of the spare tire in your car and what the standard PSI for spare tire should be? The answer will be revealed in the article.
Spare Tire On Car: Is It Really Necessary?Imagine when you are driving on the highway, suddenly your normal tires get flat. You open the trunk of your car and realize that there is no spare tire. Unfortunately, such situations often happen to drivers, because many people are still not fully aware of the importance of this type of tire.
Therefore, having a spare tire in the car is always handy to avoid unexpected and avoidable situations. You should always have a spare tire in your car because you never know when you’ll be flat or punctured and stuck on the side of the road. Spare tires can provide you with a direct replacement, allowing you to move back until the tire repair service is on there.
A spare tire is considered a lifesaver when the main tire has a problem along the way, usually located in the rear luggage compartment or outside covered.
With a smaller size than the main tire, the spare tire will reduce the weight significantly. In addition, the vehicle will be lighter and use less fuel when operating the engine. On top of that, the spare tire is small in size, saving space for the luggage compartment.
>> Read more: How Are Tires Made? Learn About Parts Of A Tire?
Having a spare tire on car is always handy to avoid unexpected and avoidable situations. (Photo: pinterest.com)How Much Is The Correct PSI For Spare Tire?Knowing what PSI your tires should be is very important for your safety. A tire should be replaced, with a spare tire, when one of your tires is deflated or flat. But how to know how much air should be in a spare tire? The ideal pressure for the spare tire is around 60 pounds per square inch (PSI). It’s a smaller tire and it’s only for emergency use, typically going like a max of like 55 miles an hour.
If you own a heavier vehicle like a truck or SUV, you will need full-sized spare tires.
And the air pressure that is recommended for the tires typically ranges from 32 and 38 PSI. However, we recommend you check the owner’s manual to find the correct PSI. This parameter is always written on the stickers that are molded into the side of your tires or on the side of the wall.
Many drivers wonder why do spare tires have higher psi than normal tires. The reason behind such a high PSI is that their dimension is smaller. Because the spare tires have a contact surface half the size of a full-size tire, the PSI needs to be higher than the normal tires to compensate for the reduced area.
You can understand simply that the space-saving tire has less tread area than your typical full-size spare tire. To maintain full contact of the rubber with the road surface, higher pressure is required for the tread to contact, typically 60 psi. Since the spare tire is only used in emergencies, it is rarely used, so it is better to have extra air pressure in it. Otherwise, you may encounter a situation where the spare tire cannot be used because the air pressure in it is too low.
We are sure that spare tires are one of the parts in your car that are easy to overlook in vehicle maintenance. If you don’t take care of this tire, you may be stranded on the road because you don’t have a spare tire to change due to a flat spare tire or any damage. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking and maintaining the spare tire before every trip.
How often should you check your spare tire?Many people think that the spare tire is only stored in the trunk and is not used much. Unless the tire is punctured, the tire will still maintain the same amount of air pressure when it is initially inflated. Like all four tires, spare tires can be negatively impacted by a variety of factors, from temperature to UV exposure, and even time. We recommend checking your spare every time you rotate your tires, periodically every 6,000-8,000 miles.
Spare tires are prone to slow air leaks and fluctuating temperatures.
Checking the air pressure regularly is a very important step. You should check the air pressure in your spare tires every time when checking the other tires. This will help ensure that the spare tire is properly inflated as you want to use it. Driving with an under-inflated tire, especially a smaller one, can cause serious damage to your wheel and car.
Pressing on the tire is not a good measure to inspect the air pressure of your spare tires to know when it needs to fill up. Unlike your usual four tires, the space-saver tire usually has to be inflated to about 60 PSI; If your PSI is too low, it can break and damage the wheel. Even so, a fully inflated “donut” is a temporary remedy, usually, you can drive up to 100 miles at speeds, not up to 55 mph.
To check tire pressure, you will need a tire gauge. You can find this tool in any auto parts store. After that, remove the valve cap from the tire.
Then, place the tire pressure gauge on the valve stem and press firmly to make the squeal disappear and the tire pressure gauge will display the information. With a standard gauge, the pressure pushes the hand to a specific level on the dial. With an electronic tire pressure gauge, the information will be displayed on the screen.
In any situation, we hope that the spare tire will just sit in your trunk and carry on your trip. But in case you need it, it should be in top condition ready to get you where you want to go. Follow these tips to keep your spare tire in good shape:
Check the pressure:Designed and functionally the same as any other tire, a spare tire is also greatly affected by temperature and other factors and directly affects the air level in the tire. Therefore, the spare tire air pressure should be monitored to ensure the proper level according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Don’t ignore the signs of aging:Over time, the spare tires will show the signs of aging that you can notice visually.
First, you can check the tire surface to make sure there are no cracks in the tire. If cracks appear in large numbers, you should replace the spare tire. Don’t forget to double the tire tread. Treads will make traction on the road. Although spare tires usually don’t wear out at the same rate as other tires, their performance will reduce over time. You can check tread depth by many methods like using a penny.
This method just is applied for full-size spare tires (like trucks, SUVs, or sedans). You should rotate your spare tires every 6000-8000 miles. Normally, the spare tires will be rotated into the correct rear position and the old part becomes the spare.
Clean and preserve the spare tires: Cleaning the spare tires allows you to inspect for irregularities, cracks, and leaks on the tire surface. Use a quality protectant with UV protection to improve the life of the rubber and prevent cracking or cracking. Or use specialized cleaners to remove stains and stains.
For the spare tires that are mounted beneath your truck. You can use hard tire covers (steel plates) or plastic covers to protect the tire from debris or rock. Also, keep it clean and limit the damage to the rim or rubber.
>> Read more: How to Choose The Best Air Compressor For Your Car
How Long Does A Spare Tire Last?The years will depend on how often each driver uses the spare tire. Over time, even if your spare tire is not unused, the quality and performance of the tire will decrease. During storage, the rubber surface of the tire contacts and reacts with the oxygen in the air. Oxidation will break the rubber layer and gradually crack.
To limit this process, manufacturers have used Ozonate additives to help prevent the rubber from degrading and that is why the life of unused spare tires can be extended from 6 to 10 years. So when your spare tire exceeds this period, replace the tire immediately. Make sure you replace the spare tire with the correct type of tire.
Each car model will require different types of spare tires. You can use full-size tires or a donut (space-saving).
We know that the only thing worse than having a flat tire is finding that your spare tires are flat too when you are driving. The truth is that people rarely check their spare tires in their free time and don’t even see it until they really need them. It’s essential to make sure your spare tire is ready to roll for the days you need it most. Knowing the exact PSI for spare tire will limit this unwanted situation. Don’t hesitate to comment in the box below if you have any questions or concerns.
Tire pressure significantly affects driving parameters: comfort, car handling, economy and safety. It is important to maintain the pressure recommended by the manufacturer and check it regularly. Let's figure out how to do it right.
When driving on asphalt, incorrect tire pressure (both high and low) leads to a decrease in the contact patch with the road.
An overinflated wheel clings to the surface only in the central part, which leads to its rapid wear. A poorly inflated tire, on the contrary, "sits" on the sidewalls, leaning on the shoulder areas of the tread and pushing the central part inward. Here's what it looks like:
Both under-inflation and over-inflation in tires create many problems for the driver.
1. Increased wear of the central part of the tire tread.
2. Reduced ride comfort, hardness of potholes and road bumps.
3. Increased load on the car's suspension due to reduced tire damping effect.
4. Risk of tire damage and herniation due to shock loading (getting into a pit or pothole).
5. Reduced control stability due to reduced contact patch.
1. Increased wear of the tread sidewalls (shoulder areas).
2. Severe deformation of the rubber when driving over bumps, which increases the risk of tire damage.
3. An increase in tire temperature, which threatens to delamination of the carcass and can lead to tire explosion at high speed.
4. Increased risk of hydroplaning on wet roads.
5. Risk of tire breaking.
6. Increased fuel consumption.
Reduced pressure hits the driver's pocket hard: a pressure drop of 20% (which is not uncommon: it is enough, for example, to deflate the wheels to 1.8 atmospheres instead of the manufacturer's prescribed 2.2) reduces tire life by 25-30% and increases fuel consumption fuel by 3%.
There is no universal tire pressure: it depends on the size of the tires, the characteristics of the car (primarily weight) and road conditions. Therefore, it is important to follow the factory recommendations, maintaining exactly the tire pressure that the engineers expected when designing the car.
The recommended pressure for your machine can be found in the operating instructions and on the sticker in the door frame.
If, depending on the configuration, tires of several dimensions were installed on the car, then the pressure recommended for them may differ - look in the table for your exact wheel size. The manufacturer may prescribe an increase in tire pressure at the maximum load of the machine. For the spare tire (Spare tire), the required pressure is also indicated on a separate line - note that it is much higher than the standard one.
So, you have found the necessary pressure parameters, it remains to decipher them. In physics, pressure is measured in pascals, in real life - in anything: in bars, atmospheres, pounds-force, kilogram-force ... Drivers and tire workers usually use the term atmosphere, but such a unit is often absent on pressure gauges (pressure measuring devices) . Let's clear up this confusion.
Atmosphere is a non-systemic unit of measurement, approximately equal to atmospheric pressure on the surface of the Earth. Since it has become widely used, it was necessary to somehow equate it with correct physical units.
For simplicity, one atmosphere is considered equal to one bar, one kilogram-force and one hundred kilopascals.
In addition to the technical atmosphere (at), there is also the physical atmosphere (atm), which is slightly larger. Again, for convenience, they are considered equal. But all these assumptions introduce an error, so if you need accurate tire pressure, measure it correctly - in pascals or bars. Moreover, manufacturers usually indicate the pressure in these quantities.
Imperial pounds-force (aka PSI, “psy”), popular in the USA, is more difficult to translate, here you can’t do without a calculator. In the table, we have collected together all pressure units with exact values, and also approximately brought them to each other to simplify calculations:
| Pressure units | |||||
| Pascal | Bar | Technical atmosphere | Physical atmosphere | PSI | |
| 1 Pa | 1 N/m² | 10-5 | 10. | 9.8692•10-6 | 145.04•10-6 |
| 1 bar | 105 | 1x106 dynes/cm² | 1.0197 | 0.98692 | 14.504 |
| 1 at | 98066.5 | 0.980665 | 1 kgf/cm² | 0.96784 | 14.223 |
| 1 bar | 101325 | 1.01325 | 1.033 | 1 bar | 14. |
| 1psi | 6894.76 | 68.948•10-3 | 70.307•10-3 | 68.046•10-3 | 1lbf/in² |
It is advisable to check tire pressure daily, before driving. But this is only possible with a very measured rhythm of life. In reality, checking at least once a month is already an excellent indicator for the average driver. But before traveling a long distance, checking the pressure and visual inspection of tires and rims should be done in any case.
It is necessary to measure the pressure in cold tires, that is, before driving. During driving, the tires heat up, which increases the pressure by about 10%. Therefore, never release supposedly excess air from hot tires: after cooling, the pressure will be below normal.
If you had to inflate a hot tire during a trip, inflate it 10% more than the nominal value, and check the pressure again when the wheels have cooled down - no earlier than 3 hours after stopping.
Always check the pressure in all tires. Different tire pressures seriously affect handling and can cause the car to pull to the side. Do not forget about the "spare tire": it should always be inflated in case of an unexpected wheel change on the road.
For long-term driving at high speeds (more than 160 km/h), car manufacturers advise increasing tire pressure by 0.2-0.4 bar from the recommended value. This will slightly improve the handling of the car, although it will negatively affect comfort. But such advice is relevant for driving on high-speed autobahns, and not for everyday urban use, especially in Russia.
Before a long trip on a dirt road or a road with a muddy surface (mud, snow), it is reasonable, on the contrary, to reduce the pressure in the tires - this will improve the grip.
In summer, it is worth limiting yourself to reducing pressure by 5-10% of the nominal value, and in winter - by 10-15%.
The pressure in low-profile tires (especially non-standard sizes) must be monitored especially carefully. Low profile tires have two features: a low sidewall (profile) height and a large rim diameter. If the tire has the correct air pressure, only the tread is in contact with the road. Low pressure causes the sidewall of the tire to bend, causing it to touch the roadway and wear out quickly, up to complete abrasion. And punching a low-profile tire in a pit at low pressure is much easier.
When inflating low profile tires, you need to focus on the pressure indicated for a full load of the machine and the maximum allowable pressure for a particular tire. It is indicated on the sidewall, next to the inscription max pressure, in one of the accepted units of measurement: kilopascals (KPA), bars (BAR) or pounds-force (PSI).
Modern cars equipped with sensors in tires and a TPMS (Tire pressure monitoring system) pressure monitoring system themselves monitor the pressure in each wheel and signal deviations, which is very convenient. If there is no such system in the car from the factory, you can install it yourself.
But the old manual measurement methods are still in use. Firstly, any modern car compressor is equipped with a pressure gauge: by inflating the wheel, you immediately control the pressure.
Secondly, there are compact hand-held pressure gauges: no need to unpack and connect the pump to check the pressure, and the measurement accuracy of such a pressure gauge is usually higher than that of a built-in compressor instrument. There are also modern digital pressure gauges on sale that allow you to switch pressure units on the fly and save readings in memory, which is very convenient.
Finally, if you want to entrust all maintenance of the car to professionals, you can use the services of tire fitting.
In Hyperauto car services equipped with tire fitting areas, experienced mechanics will accurately measure and correct tire pressure, assess the condition of the tire tread and perform any other work with the wheels.
Home / Articles / How to check tire pressure correctly
The tire contains air, but this air tends to go out and little by little the tire goes down. The pressure in the tire drops, which entails certain consequences. Because the tire distorts more under load, the tire heats up more and wears out much faster. Control accuracy deteriorates and fuel consumption increases. In the worst case, this will lead to loss of control of the car and the tire may burst. Therefore, it is extremely important to constantly check the pressure in car tires. However, this operation requires some explanation.
In fact, the required tire pressure for various types of machines is usually given with cold tires.
In fact, the required tire pressure for various types of machines is usually given for cold tires.
It's a tire that hasn't moved for at least the last two hours. The tire heats up quickly. For example, already after 3 kilometers of slow driving around the city. This means that in most cases the tire will be hot during the pressure test. In this case, it is considered normal that the pressure, which increases with increasing temperature, will be higher than that set for the cold Shiga. More precisely, the pressure in hot tires should exceed the pressure in cold ones by 0.3 atmospheres. If this is not the case, the pressure should be brought back to normal. For example, let's take a tire in a cold state and a recommended pressure of 2 atmospheres. After the trip, the tire has warmed up, and the pressure gauge shows a pressure of about 2.1 atmospheres. Although this pressure is higher than recommended for cold ones, nevertheless, the tires can be pumped up by about two tenths of an atmosphere, that is, in order to reach the normal figure for a hot tire of 2.3 atmospheres.
What to do if the pressure gauge reads more than 2.
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