Even if you don't understand cars or know much about car maintenance, there are a few things that you can handle yourself that are incredibly important for road safety. Since tires are the contact point between your car and the road, proper tire pressure is critical.
Fortunately, it takes minimal time and effort to ensure that everything is in working order. Check out this helpful guide to learn the importance of tire pressure.
At the Ray Price Lincoln Tire Center, we help drivers from Stroudsburg, Lehigh Valley, and Nazareth find affordable tires and offer professional tire repair to keep you rolling on.
Low Tire Pressure Danger
When the pressure is low in your tires, your braking distances increase and you'll be dealing with less responsive steering and handling. As you can imagine, this becomes a huge problem when you deal with unexpected road hazards that require you to brake quickly or swerve to avoid hitting something. In those moments, the proper inflation of your tires means the difference between a near-miss or a crash.
Additionally, low pressure allows the sidewalls of your tires to flex excessively, and that friction builds up heat. Over time, heat accelerates the wear on your tire tread, and continuous high heat can cause tires to lose tread segments and make your tires prone to blowouts. Low pressure can also reduce your fuel economy, since underinflated tires have a higher rolling resistance. They will need to be replaced more often due to uneven wear.
Overinflated tires can cause problems as well, though it's less likely to occur. Modern tires are built to withstand overinflation, but consistently overinflating your tires can increase their wear more quickly.
Proper Tire Pressure
To determine the proper tire pressure for your vehicle, consult your owner's manual or the decal on your door frame that outlines your tire specifications. In older models, this information may be found in the fuel filler flap, trunk lid or glove box door.
It's important to note that the pressure molded into the tire sidewall indicates the pressure needed for the tire's fully-rated load carrying capacity, and isn't an indicator of ideal tire pressure for everyday driving. In addition, vehicle manufacturers may recommend different tire pressure specifications for front and rear tires, when the car is carrying the full capacity of passengers or when it will be used for regular highway driving. Higher pressures increase the load capacity and reduce friction and heat.
For example, pickup trucks and SUVs have light-truck tires, which will be marked with LT on the sidewalls, and their recommended pressure varies based on their load.
Check Your Tire Pressure at Ray Price Lincoln Today
It is important to check your tire pressure on a regular basis. Not only will it become habit, but it will also give you an idea of what your normal pressure is, so you'll be more likely to notice a problem. Ideally, you should check the tire pressure once a week, as well as before and after any long road trip, and you should never go more than a month without checking.
It's best to check your tire pressure when the vehicle is at rest, since pressure readings can increase when the tires are hot. To make everything easier, invest in a quality pressure gauge with a dial or digital reading.
To assist with all of your tire needs, as well as other services or repairs in the Stroudsburg, Lehigh Valley and Nazareth areas, stop by Ray Price Lincoln to speak with our knowledgeable staff or schedule an appointment. We look forward to working with you!