Why Should You Check Your Tires Every Month?

April 2, 2020 1:25 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Your tires are all that stands between your vehicle and the road, so it’s crucial that you take all of the proper steps to keep them in good condition. This starts with checking your tires monthly in New Palestine, IN. While all tires will experience wear and tear over the course of years of use, most premature wear is the result of driving on improperly inflated tires, so it is important for you to always keep an eye on your tires’ air pressure.

Keeping the proper level of air pressure is crucial for several reasons, beyond just reducing the risk of a flat tire or blowout. For example, properly inflated tires make it easier for you to handle your vehicle, whether you’re just doing your everyday driving or find yourself in an emergency stopping or swerving situation. Tires that get low on air will have excessive tread wear and result in vehicles that are more difficult to control.

In addition, tires without the proper air pressure will increase rolling resistance and friction, which has a negative effect on fuel economy. This means under-inflated tires will cost you more money at the gas pump.

Finally, improper inflation results in you stressing your tires and creating uneven or excessive wear, which means you’ll need to replace the tires sooner than expected. As you likely know, replacing tires is not cheap, so it’s in your best interest to try to avoid this for as long as you can.

Checking your tire pressure

Now that you know why it’s so important to check your tires on a regular basis, it’s important for you to also know how you can check your tire pressure.

Most vehicles manufactured today will have automatic pressure sensors that will alert you when the tire pressure in your vehicle falls below a certain point. However, you shouldn’t rely on that system or wait for your tire pressure to get down to that low of a level, especially if you’ve already started to notice any of the signs of tire wear.

Instead, be proactive and use an air pressure gauge to check your tire pressure. You can find them for cheap online or at auto parts stores or gas stations. To determine the proper air pressure level for your tires, look either inside your vehicle’s owner’s manual, or on the label inside the driver’s door jamb to determine the recommended air pressure (not the maximum air pressure). This number will be in the form of pounds per square inch (PSI). The owner’s manual might also list additional instructions for ideal pressures when the air temperature is above or below a certain level. Note that the tire pressure listed on the tire’s sidewall itself is the maximum pressure, not the recommended pressure.

To use the gauge, unscrew the cap from the valve stem, put the round end of the gauge over the stem and push down to make a good seal to get a correct reading. It’s a good idea to repeat this procedure a couple times to make sure the reading is accurate. Then you can add more air as needed.

For more information about how often to check your tires in New Palestine, IN, contact the team at Auto Air & Heating, Inc. today.

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