When you’re driving and suddenly your tire pressure drops, what do you do? If you’re like most people, you probably pull over to the side of the road and call a car mechanic. But did you know that there are a few things that you can do yourself to get your tire pressure back up to normal? In this blog post, we will discuss what to do when your tire pressure drops and how to prevent it from happening in the first place!
Your tires are the only part of the car that has direct contact with the road. Tires affect your vehicle handling, ride, braking, and safety. For optimum performance, tires must have the correct air pressure, tread depth, balance and the wheels of the vehicle must be properly aligned.
Every tire has a recommended amount of air pressure that should be in it. This number can be found on the side of your tire or in your car’s owner’s manual. A good tire pressure helps with:
You should check tire pressure at least once a month. Make it part of your monthly maintenance because on average, tires lose approximately 1 pound per square inch (PSI) of tire pressure every month. PSI refers to the minimum amount of air pressure needed to support your vehicle at its maximum load.
Low pressure could result from a leak or simply from the tendency of a tire to lose about a pound of air pressure every month, as well as a pound for every 10-degree drop in temperature. So if your tires are inflated properly in the summer, they could be low enough by the winter months to prompt the tire-pressure warning. Similarly, if a tire-pressure light illuminates on a cool morning, it could shut off if the ambient temperature climbs high enough to bring the tires back to an acceptable pressure. Tires warm up as you drive, raising their internal pressure by about 3 psi, which is another reason the TPMS warning might be on first thing in the morning and off later in the day.
If your tire pressure drops, the first thing you should do is check the pressure in all of your tires. You can do this with a tire pressure gauge. If one of your tires is low, add air to it until it reaches the recommended amount. If you’re not sure how much air to add, check your car’s owner’s manual or the sidewall of the tire. Once you’ve added air to the low tire, drive for a few miles and then check the pressure again. If the pressure is still low, you may have a leak in your tire. If this is the case, stop by Scott’s Auto to let us help you correct the issue.
The best way to prevent your tire pressure from dropping is to check it regularly. You should check your tire pressure at least once a month, and more often if you live in an area with extreme temperatures. Cold weather can cause your tire pressure to drop, so be sure to check it before winter hits. You should also check your tire pressure if you’ve been driving on rough roads or if you’ve hit a curb or pothole. These things can cause your tires to lose air. If you’re not sure how to check your tire pressure, stop by Scott’s Auto and we’ll be happy to help you out!
Scott’s Auto is your one stop shop for tires and all of your auto repair needs. With our team of ASE Certified technicians on hand, we can diagnose, service and repair your vehicle using the latest in state-of-the-art alignment and diagnostic equipment. Our vast knowledge base gives us the upper hand when it comes to outfitting your vehicle with new Good Year, Michelin, Cooper Tires, Continental Tire, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Toyo, Sumitomo, Yokohama, Nitto or any of the other top tires we carry. Stop by today to learn more!
