How To Check Tire Pressure

The Importance of Tire Pressure

When your tires are properly inflated, they are performing optimally and as they were designed. When they have the proper amount of air, their tread will wear more slowly. It also has benefits to your car’s overall handling and even gas mileage. This is true when all four tires are properly inflated. When even one tire is under-inflated, you’ll start to see a difference.

When your tires are not inflated to their optimal level, you’ll start to see adverse effects on your driving. Acceleration, turning, and other normal operations will start to feel clunky, and you’ll need more fuel to burn to get the same drive you’d otherwise have. The tire will also wear down more quickly, which will lead to you needing new tires sooner. For these reasons and more, it’s important to make sure your tires are ready for action.

What Tire Pressure Do I Need?

Different vehicles have different requirements for tire pressure. You can either look it up in your model’s owner’s manual or look for a sticker conveniently located on the inside of the driver’s door. It’s measured in PSI (pounds per square inch).

You will need a tire pressure gauge to figure out your exact pressure level- you can find one at most service centers. Then it’s as easy as following a few steps.

1. Wait for your tires to be cold—either first thing in the morning or at least three hours after driving.
2. Remove the cap on the tire’s air valve (don’t lose this!)
3. Press the gauge on the opened valve for a moment. You can then see what your tire measures at.

Repeat this process for all four tires, and you’ll find out which ones are (and aren’t) properly inflated.

What if My Tires Are Under-Inflated?

Should you find your tires need more pressure, there’s a simple fix. Most gas stations and service centers have an air compressor for this purpose. Simply attach the nozzle to the valve and press. You should keep your tire pressure gauge on hand to check that you get to the optimal pressure.

When in doubt, head over to our service and tire center! Our expert technicians know all about what cars need, including tires. They’ll make sure you get the fix or new tire that you need.