Just like everything else automotive, tires can be a bit of a mystery. You know you need them, but if you’ve never had to inflate them yourself, it can be a little intimidating. Happily, learning how much air to put in your tires, when to do it and how to do it is easy once you learn a few basic 3 Birds Auto tire tips.
Why it’s important
Before you get to pumping up your tires, it’s important to understand why proper inflation is such a big deal. Under-inflated tires are:
- Dangerous. If you let your tires get too low, you’re running the risk of a blow-out. And that’s not nearly as much fun as it sounds.
- Costly. You’re wearing through your tires faster. And we all know tires aren’t cheap. At over $100 a pop, that’s a lot of unnecessary money to be spending.
- Wasting gas. Ever try to ride a bike with a flat tire? That’s how your car feels driving on under-inflated tires. It takes a lot more energy, and energy means gas.
When to do it
When your tires are really low you can see the spread against the road, but, it’s not always easy to eyeball it. Get a tire pressure gauge. Digital gauges work the best, and the best part is they’re very affordable. It might set you back all of $10. Buy one and keep it in your glove box.
It’s best to check your tires when they’re cold. If you’ve been driving a lot, give them an hour to cool or check them in the morning.
How much to add or take out
To find out what pressure you want, open your driver’s side door and along the door jamb you’ll see a sticker. It might read something like 32 PSI (pounds per square inch). This is your target.
Now you’re ready to see what your current tire pressure is. The gauge is easy to use. Just unscrew the little valve cap on your tire. (Those little guys have a way of disappearing, so put it in your pocket for safekeeping.) Press the business end of the gauge onto the valve. Don’t worry if you hear a hissing sound when you press it on and take it off. That’s normal. The readout will tell you what your tire pressure currently is.
How to do it
Unless you have an air compressor lying around, you need to get to a gas station with an air pump. Pull up close so you can reach all four tires with the hose.
To add some air, just stick the air hose onto the valve, the same way you did with the gauge and add a little air. Don’t go crazy adding too much air. If the hose doesn’t have a built-in gauge, take the hose off and check the pressure again with yours.
Before long, you’ll get a handle on how long it takes to add a few PSI. If you add a little too much, just press down on the little stem in the middle of the valve with a pen or your fingernail and hold it to release air.
Do this with all four tires and you’re good to go!
