As the temperature will begin to drop over the next few weeks, drivers will need to remember to check their tires. Many people forget or don’t know that tires can lose pressure simply due to cooler temperatures. It can be surprising to learn that for every 10 degree drop in temperature, you can lose between one and two pounds of air pressure or (PSI). As the air pressure drops inside the tire, you can develop unexpected problems. To prevent major tire problems and even flats, you will want to make sure to check the pressure in your tires more often. Citywide Towing Service will share a little bit about the cooling weather effects of a tire, the dangers of driving with low tire pressure, and where to seek help if the unexpected occurs.
How Often Should You Check Tire Pressure?
As the temperatures cool down, drivers will want to begin checking the tire’s pressure more often. It is recommended to check the tire pressure about every two weeks until the temperature stabilizes for the average winter temperatures. For the next several weeks the days and night will become colder and your tire will continue to lose their air pressure.
Check Tire Pressure on Cold Tires
When checking your tires air pressure, there are a few thing you will want to keep in mind. First, you will want to check a cold tire’s pressure. A tire will warm up when you are driving which will not give you an accurate reading. Either check the tire’s pressure before you drive the vehicle or wait a few hours after the vehicle has been driven to allow the tire to cool down. Second, you must know your tire’s pressure. There are two types of pressure measurement for a single tire. There is maximum air pressure and operating air pressure. When reading the PSI on the sidewall of the tires, you are looking at the maximum air pressure the tire can safely hold. You never want to exceed the maximum air pressure recommendations. However, you will want to maintain operating air pressure and not maximum air pressure. You can find the operating PSI number on the driver side inner door frame. It is on a sticker, or you can find the operating PSI in your owner manual. You will want to maintain operating PSI.
How Do You Prevent Uneven Tire Wear?
When driving on low tire pressure you can develop odd tire wear patterns. Tires will wear out but when the right amount of air pressure is in the tires, the wear is even. When the pressure is too low the wear pattern will often wear harder in one section which will lead to a blowout. Additionally, driving on low tire pressure reduces traction which can lead to accidents. To ensure a healthier wear pattern on your tires as well as proper traction, you will want to ensure you maintain the tire pressure.
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Low tire pressure most often leads to blowouts and flats. When you get a flat you may find you do not have the tools or understand on how to change a tire. Those who need help changing a tire can seek out towing and roadside assistance services. If you need fast roadside assistance or towing services, contact Citywide Towing today.
