Many car owners drive their new vehicle off the lot and don’t pay any attention to the only part that actually touches the road until a tire is flat or need to be replaced.
The most common adjustment we make in the Executive Auto Group’s Tire Centers with regard 
to tire care is correcting improper tire pressure. Because we consider tire pressure to be a safety issue, it’s a routine check for virtually every vehicle that enters any of our service bays.
When you think about the fact that your tires are the only contact between your vehicle and the road it becomes more apparent that paying attention to your tires is important. Need more convincing? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 30,000 injuries and more than 650 fatalities occur every year due to tires in the U.S. alone, so clearly proper tire care is an essential safety issue.
Tire pressure is the level of air in the tire. The amount of air pressure is measured in Pounds per Square Inch (psi) and the level will affect the wear of your tires and the overall performance of your vehicle.
Under- and over-inflating tires can both be safety hazards. Over-inflating tires can adversely affect vehicle maneuverability, make your vehicle ride harsher, and potentially lead to loss of control and crashes. Under inflating can result in tire stress due to overheating, irregular wear of tread, tire failure, and again loss of driver control.
Checking Tire Pressure
Like any porous material, rubber allows a continuous loss of air to escape over time. Tires 
routinely lose 0.5 psi per month from this natural air loss, but it can be much more sudden when you strike a curb, hit an object in the road, or drive over a pothole. Since it is almost impossible to confirm a loss of pressure by visual inspection, it is recommended you check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month.
Different vehicles have different tires so you don’t want to just inflate your tires until it “looks right.” Purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at any Executive Auto Group dealership, auto supply store, and other retail outlets. The psi number on the side of your tire reflects only the “maximum permissible” inflation pressure for that tire. So to do it yourself, look for the detailed information on your vehicle certification label. You’ll find the vehicle manufacturer’s tire information including:
- Recommended tire size
- Recommended tire inflation pressure (usually given in PSI cold)
Manufacturer's Tire Placard
- Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
- The maximum occupant and cargo weight a vehicle is designed to carry
- Gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) for front and rear axles:
- The maximum weight the axle systems are designed to carry
These placards are permanently attached to the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove-box door, or inside of the trunk lid. You can also find the recommended tire pressure and load limit for your vehicle in your vehicle owner’s manual.
When you check your tire pressure remember that the recommended tire pressure is when a tire is cold. The term cold does not relate to the outside temperature, but a tire that has not been driven on for three or more hours. When you drive, your tires get warmer, causing the air pressure within them to increase. Your tires can get warm after just 1 mile of driving. So in order for you to get an accurate tire pressure reading, you must measure tire pressure when the tires are cold. Of course, you don’t have to wait at the dealership for hours to get an accurate tire pressure reading since our technicians have the expertise to compensate for the extra pressure in warm tires.
For the best vehicle repair advice available at any dealers in CT and for more information on new tires see our Tire Sales in CT post. Our Wallingord Tire Centers know all about tires. There’s no appointment necessary for for a free tire pressure check and if you’d like, we’ll put your vehicle on a lift for a free complete tire inspection. Plus, if you stop in this month and mention this blog post we’ll give you a tire pressure gauge for free.
