by Biloxi Von Lutz

Created on: May 11, 2010

Take a look at the tires on your car. When was the last time you checked your air pressure? I'd be willing to bet that it probably wasn't recently. If you're like most drivers, you most likely don't give the air pressure in your tires a minute's thought until one of them goes flat. This can be both a costly and dangerous oversight. 

The tires on your car have an optimal operating air pressure range. For the typical passenger car, this is usually between 28 and 41 psi. Every vehicle has a placard inside the door frame on the driver's side door that lists the recommended air pressures for the front and rear tires. This air pressure will fall within the usable range specified on the sidewall of your tires. The air pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer will typically give you the best combination of ride quality, tread life, and fuel efficiency.

A tire that is under-inflated can be dangerous. The tire can flex excessively during hard cornering and lead to a loss of control, especially in an SUV. An under-inflated tire also has a much higher rolling resistance than a properly inflated one, resulting in decreased fuel economy. Under-inflated tires will wear more on the outside of the tread, which can cause the tire to wear out rather quickly. However, inflating a tire to a pound or two less than the manufacturer's recommendations may improve the ride quality slightly without diminishing the fuel economy too much. A slight decrease in the air pressure helps the tire absorb minor bumps in the road.

An over-inflated tire can be just as dangerous as an under-inflated one. Over-inflated tires have less contact area with the road and lose traction easily. This can be especially dangerous in the rain. An over-inflated tire can also blow out if loaded past the tire manufacturer's specifications. An over-inflated tire tends to wear more on the center of the tread, causing the tire to wear out prematurely. A slight fuel economy increase can be gained by inflating your tires a pound or two over the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, but never inflate a tire to more than the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall.

Tire pressure should be checked at least once a month and always when the tire is cold. Traveling on the tires causes heat to build up, which raises the air pressure, giving an inaccurate reading. A few minutes every few weeks is all that's necessary to make sure you get the maximum value and performance out of your tires. Take the time and you'll save money and protect yourself and others in the long run.

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