March 31st, 2017

Importance of Tire Pressure

Properly inflated tire pressure will prolong the life of your vehicle, result in better handling, save gas and save the environment. With properly inflated tires, your tires will wear evenly, which prolongs their life and can improve your vehicle’s fuel consumption which helps reduce air pollution. Correctly inflated, your tires can perform at their best which means better handling, dependable traction and a more comfortable ride for you.
A Few Things to Remember:

• Always set your tires to the pressure specified in your vehicle’s owner manual or tire information placard.
• Always check and adjust your tire pressure first thing before driving once per day.
• Temperature differences affect your tire pressure. Cold weather will cause your pressure to drop while warm weather will cause your pressure to increase. So, it is exceptionally important to check it when the season changes.
  
• Always check your tires with a good quality tire pressure gauge. Many vehicles come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Generally, this system will alert you if your tires are losing air or are below the recommended pressure. We recommend keeping a tire pressure gauge in your glove compartment – even if you have a TPMS. This will ensure you are getting a consistent reading each time.

Over-inflation vs Under-inflation
Over-inflated tires are rigid and stiff causing the tire’s contact patch (the amount of rubber that meets the road) to be reduced. This will lead to a bumpy ride ride as well as uneven tread wear. The most common type of uneven tread wear due to over-inflation is referred to as “center wear.” The center of the tire will be smooth and worn down while there will be more tread on the sides of the tire.
Under-inflated tires do not hold their shape and are flatter to the ground. So, more of the tire comes in contact with the road, thus causing the shoulders of the tire to wear prematurely. This is referred to as “shoulder wear.” There will be a strip of normal tread down the center of the tire while the shoulders of the tire will be smooth and worn down. Under-inflated tires are more flexible when they roll, leading to increased rolling resistance and therefore a decrease in fuel economy.

---