According to recent study by
the National Transportation and Safety Administration,
available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/, more than 25%
of all passenger cars and more than 33% of all
light trucks have under inflated tires.What does this mean to you?
Lower gas mileage - Lower tire pressure means lower gas mileage.
For each pound of under inflation, your
gas mileage can drop up to 1 percent!
Tire failure
Under inflation is the leading cause of tire
failure.
Faster tread wear - Lower tire pressure also causes the tread to
wear out faster and forces premature replacement.
Poorer handling - The point where the tire meets the road is
a crucial element in determining the ride control
of your vehicle. Under inflation prevents your ride
control system from functioning properly. So what is the
proper tire pressure for your vehicle?
While there is a lot of information available
in the market, the best way to determine this
is refer to your owners manual. Each vehicle
is designed by the manufacturer with a specific
tire and tire pressure in mind. Some things
to keep in mind.
The proper tire pressure is available to
you in a number of locations in the owners
manual or on the door jam or doorpost. Many vehicles now also have sticker
on the interior of the gas cap.
The pressure listed on the exterior of the
tire is the maximum pressure that the tire
should be inflated to, not necessarily the
ideal pressure.
Always take the tires pressure when the
tires are cold driven less than one mile.
Tires will lose about one pound per square
inch (PSI) for every 10-degree drop in the
temperature.
Tires will also lose pressure over time
about 1 PSI per month.
To improve the life of your tires, rotate
them on a regular basis - every 5,000 to 8,000
miles. Every other oil change is a good
rule of thumb.
