Many drivers wonder “How Often Should I Check Tire Pressure?” – Well, today we’re going to give you an answer!
Regularly.
Tire pressure should be checked regularly. At least once a month to maintain proper pressures. Read on to see why.
As a general rule, your car’s tires lose around one PSI of air pressure per month. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires. Under-inflated tires also wear faster, and are more prone to blowouts.
Modern vehicles equipped with TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems) make it a fairly simple job to monitor air pressure. Older vehicles without TPMS will require either a retrofit, or a plain old handheld pressure gauge to check it.
You can improve your gas mileage by 0.6% on average—up to 3% in some cases—by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.
What Tire Pressure Should You Inflate To?
Your car tires should usually be inflated to the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer. You can typically find the specified pressure on a sticker located in the driver’s door jamb area.
Is it better to over inflate tires?
In most cases, no. You should stick to the manufacturer’s recommended air pressure in most cases. Over inflated tires will have less traction, and wear faster towards the center.
Keep in mind, if you are loading a vehicle with heavy cargo or pulling a trailer, the recommended air pressure will change. Check with your tire’s manufacturer or Consult their pressure load chart to see how much you need to increase your tire pressure to handle the load.
Interested in other ways to improve gas mileage? Check out another article on the subject by clicking the link! You can also see all articles tagged with gas mileage or mpg.
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