Friday, September 5, 2014

How To Care For Your Tires

Tires lose about 1 pound per square inch of pressure a month on average. It's important to check your tires condition and pressure at least once every month to ensure longer and better performance.

To get the most accurate pressure reading, your tires need to be “cold,” meaning the vehicle has been parked for at least one hour in the shade (and preferably measured first thing in the morning.)

To check the pressure, remove the tire valve cap and place a tire pressure gauge on it firmly. The highest pressure shown is your current tire pressure. It's important to remove the gauge and remeasure to ensure accuracy.

If the pressure is low, you will need to add air by placing the end of an air pump hose over the tire valve. If you’re using a high-pressure air hose at a gas station, remember to only fill the tire for five seconds, then stop. If you're using a lower-pressure personal air pump, this can stay on for longer, especially if the tire is very low. Never leave the pump alone as it could overinflate the tire and damage it

Once you're finished, recheck the pressure. If the tire is overinflated, you can release air by pressing the valve inside the tire valve stem. Once you have determined your tire is inflated to the proper level, replace the valve cap, and voilĂ !