When did you last check your tires’ air pressure?
If you don’t recall, there’s a good chance you’re putting extra strain on your tires. This could affect fuel efficiency and place your safety at risk.
With that in mind, how do you know the proper tire pressure for your car?
And how to put air in tires if needed?
Don’t worry. We’ll get you all the answers.
This Article Contains:
- How Much Air Should You Put in Your Tires?
- How to Put Air in Tires?
- How to Check Your Tire’s Air Pressure?
- How Often Should You Check Your Tires’ Air Pressure?
- Why is Having the Correct Tire Pressure Important?
- Can You Drive on Tires with Low Pressure?
- Should You Fill Your Car’s Tires with Nitrogen?
How Much Air Should You Put in Your Tires?
The recommended tire pressure for your car is on a sticker at the driver’s side door jamb or in the owner’s manual. The ideal tire pressure for most cars is around 30-35 PSI. The recommended air pressure in front and rear tires may differ for some.
Important: Don’t mistake the pressure value printed on a tire’s sidewall as the recommended tire pressure. That’s the maximum cold pressure your car tire can withstand.
Now that you know the pressure for properly inflated tires, let’s pump some air into them.
How to Put Air in Tires?
You have a couple of options for tire inflation.
If at home, these could be an air compressor or a portable air pump that you can plug into your car’s 12V socket. You’ll also need an air pressure gauge to check the pressure.
(If you need to check your tire’s air pressure first, we’ll show you how to in the next section.)
If you don’t have these, go to your nearest gas station with a coin-operated air pump facility. Some gas stations also provide free air service.
- Park your car close enough to the pump so the air compressor hose can reach all underinflated tires.
- Put the required number of coins into the machine’s slot, and the pump should start. Remember that it’ll be operational for a limited time, and you’ll have to pay again for more air.
Here’s how you add air:
- Open the valve cap and keep it in a safe place. Press the end of the air dispenser against the tire valve stem. You’ll hear a hissing sound as air enters the tire. Depending on how much air the tire initially had, filling the underinflated tire can take 10 seconds to a few minutes.
- If you’ve added enough air, detach the air hose from the tire valve and take a reading using the tire pressure gauge. Gas stations may have an air hose with a built-in pressure gauge, but it’s better to double-check using a dedicated air pressure gauge, as the ones at the gas station can give a less accurate reading.
- Repeat this process until you’ve achieved the recommended air pressure. Do the same for other tires with low air.
- If the tire gauge reading is too high (meaning you now have overinflated tires), let the excess air out. Press the pin at the center of the tire valve stem in short bursts using a suitable tool (like a blunt-head screwdriver). You’ll hear the hissing sound of the air jet coming from the tire valve.
- Recheck the air pressure gauge to avoid deflating the tire too much after releasing some air.
- Put back the valve stem cap on each tire.
Note: In the case of an emergency, you can use a bike tire pump if its air dispenser is compatible with a Schrader valve (a car tire generally uses a Schrader valve, whereas a bike tire may have a Presta valve). This approach, however, will understandably take a lot of time and effort!
Adding air to your tires is pretty easy.
But what if you just want to check the air pressure?
How to Check Your Tire’s Air Pressure
For this exercise, you’ll need an air pressure gauge (pencil-type or dial-type). You can find one at an auto parts store or a gas station.
Here’s what to do:
- Take off the tire’s valve cap and keep it in a safe place.
- Press the open end of the tire pressure gauge firmly against the tire’s valve stem for a few seconds to let the instrument read the pressure. Repeat this process for all your vehicle’s tires. Check the spare tire pressure as well. If you ever get a flat tire, the last thing you need is a spare tire with low air.
- Make a point to check for tire wear, too. See if the tread depth is sufficient and whether tread wear is even. Uneven tread wear may mean you need a tire service, like wheel alignment or tire rotation. Also, check the sidewalls for damage, like cuts, bulges, or scratches.
IMPORTANT: You should check your tire inflation pressure when they are “cold.” A cold tire is after parking your car for three hours or longer, or driving it for less than a mile at a moderate speed.
A tire gauge pressure reading under other conditions will be less accurate as tires heat up while driving, increasing the inside temperature and pressure. Remember this, especially while driving to a gas station for air or using the free air service at a highway pit stop.
Let’s go over how frequently your car tire pressure should be checked, next.
How Often Should You Check Your Tires’ Air Pressure?
Car maintenance and medical health checkups are alike; the more you delay them, the less they help. Maintaining proper pressure isn’t difficult; you just need to remain consistent.
- Check the tire air pressure at least once a month and every time before going for a long drive to prevent tire failure.
- Check the tire air pressure more frequently during winter — every two weeks — as tire pressure reduces approximately by 1 PSI for a 10⁰C drop in temperature.
Your car might have a built-in tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that alerts you about low tire pressure through a dashboard warning light. However, you should still do a manual inspection routinely to maintain proper tire pressure — and you may wonder why this is essential.
We’ll answer that question next.
Why Is Having the Correct Tire Pressure Important?
Both too little or too much air are detrimental to the tires’ health and overall driving experience.
Here’s why:
A. Overinflated Tires
- Result in poor handling and can get dangerous at high speeds or sharp turns.
- Make the ride bouncy and uncomfortable.
B. Underinflated Tires
- Increase braking distance and slow steering response.
- Generate more friction and heat, increasing the chances of a tire blowout.
- Lead to low gas mileage and increased tire wear.
You’re more likely to have an underinflated tire than overinflated, as tires will lose air over time.
In this instance, is it OK to drive with low air?
Can You Drive on Tires with Low Pressure?
Technically, as long as you don’t have a flat tire, you can drive. For how long would depend on the amount of air remaining in your tires — you might have a slow leak that allows you to reach a repair shop, for example.
That said, purposely driving with underinflated tires isn’t advisable. As mentioned earlier, this would pose the risk of a tire blowout, in addition to reduced braking and handling performance.
Lower tire pressure might be helpful in certain circumstances, such as when needing more grip on offroad surfaces like sand, mud, or dirt. A softer tire may prevent it from digging too deeply into the looser terrain. Once back on pavement, the tires should be reinflated.
However, you wouldn’t want low tire pressure in snow, especially if you’re using dedicated winter tires. Winter tires should be inflated to the correct pressure, as their edges will do all the biting and digging.
TIP: Keep a portable tire inflator (air compressor or pump) in your vehicle for emergencies and easy tire maintenance.
What about using nitrogen instead of air?
Should You Fill Your Car’s Tires with Nitrogen?
There are no clear benefits of filling nitrogen in your car’s tires against regular air. You may have heard claims of improved fuel efficiency, but there’s not enough proof. Nitrogen also costs you more than air.
Tires filled with pure nitrogen could ensure lesser pressure loss with time than those filled with regular air. However, the gas available for automobile use generally has lower purity. That said, you should still routinely check the tire pressure.
Keep Your Tires Filled for a Safe, Comfortable Drive
Having properly inflated tires safeguards their longevity, helps maintain fuel economy, and provides you with a better driving experience. Make sure that you don’t overlook this easy tire maintenance exercise and carry it out routinely.
If you want professional advice about your tires and wheels or need a tire service, contact AutoNation Mobile Service.
We’re a mobile car maintenance and repair company that can cater to your automotive needs right in your driveway — be it a tire rotation, wheel alignment, or something else. You also get a hassle-free booking online, competitive prices, and a 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on all auto repairs and maintenance.
Get in touch with us, and our expert mechanics will drop by to put your tire-related worries to rest!