What's Your Tire Pressure Type?

How many times has it ever happened to you- You're driving down a long, deserted highway, then "Boom!" your tire blows out, and you find yourself having to change a tire on the side of the road. It would be an easier idea to call for a tow truck on your cell phone, but you can't always count on a reliable signal to make that call. Now what? You do the next logical thing any normal person would do, grit your teeth and pull out your spare tire changing kit from the back of your vehicle. Nobody loves doing this, even if they're paid to do it, if only you would have listened in the first place and gotten your car serviced like you were supposed to. Then none of this would have happened, which is why we'll be covering some practical information on correct tire pressure maintenance.

If you know that you'll be taking your car out of the city, and on a long trip somewhere out of state, it's best to run a basic vehicle check. Of course you would check for: oil levels, filling up your gas tank, brakes in good condition, and good tire pressure. Next to vehicle fires, incorrect tire pressure is the next leading cause for highway accidents, due to blowouts and loss of vehicle control.

It's always a good idea to check your tires whenever you fill up at the gas station, just so that you can get familiar with the correct tire pressure for your vehicle. The best way to do this is to use a tire pressure gauge, which can be purchased from any auto supply store or gas station. It's usually about the size of a ballpoint pen, and should be kept in the glove compartment of the vehicle, next to your vehicle owner's manual. If you aren't sure what correct tire pressure should be for your car, the information can be found inside your vehicle owner's manual.

The following are some tips and techniques for maintaining correct tire pressure:

- Changes in weather temperature can affect your tires pressure, especially cold weather. As you drive your vehicle, the air inside your tires tends to warm up, causing the rubber to expand. The cold temperatures can cause cracks in the tires, increasing your chances for a blowout, especially if it's been a while since you've last changed your tires.

- In order to determine accurate tire pressure readings, it is recommended to follow the tire pressure guidelines inside your vehicle owner's manual. When taking a pressure reading on a fully loaded vehicle, add another 28kpa to the recommended tire pressure reading.

- Be careful not to over inflate or under inflate your tires, as these conditions can cause abnormal wear on the tires, which is an indicator for more serious vehicle problems- such as: shorter tire life, front end alignment problems, and increased fuel consumption.

- Under inflation leads to: slower acceleration, sliding on turns, 25% decrease in tire life expectancy, difficulty maneuvering vehicle, and 5% more fuel consumption.

- Over inflation will magnify vehicle shocks absorbed from uneven driving surfaces, such as bumpy roads and potholes. Over inflated tires are favored by race car drivers, since it makes for better steering.

Better vehicle maintenance will save you money on gas, maximize your car's performance, and allow for better control and steering.