One of the most important aspects of day-to-day maintenance is proper tire inflation. It’s also one of the easiest aspect of automotive maintenance.
First of all, you need to understand the importance of proper tire inflation. A tire inflated properly will give your car better gas mileage, prolong the life of your tires, provide better handling, and avoid inconsistent steering and brake issues.
When you drive on properly inflated tires, your ride will be more comfortable and you’ll spend less on tire replacement.
Most cars need 27-35 pounds per square inch (psi), while many larger SUVs and trucks require 5-8 more pounds. The important thing is that you stick to the recommended psi for each vehicle.
It may also be recommended that front and rear wheels receive different psi, so pay attention to the sticker for your vehicle.
Experts also recommend checking your pressure when the car is cold. When driving, the tires warm up due to friction from the road, causing inaccurate readings on air pressure.
When inflating your tires, us an accurate tire gauges to make sure everything in correct. While it can be difficult to get the tires to a perfect number, side to side should be as close as possible to avoid steering and brake pull. For example, if the front driver side is at 33 psi, the front passenger side should be as close to 33 as possible.
Never exceed the maximum allowed pressure, as this can cause serious damage and dangerous driving.
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