One of the keys to a long tire life is managing its air pressure. Tires can be expensive, and maintaining them and reducing wear will keep your tires in good condition for longer. Poorly inflated tires can also blow or develop other issues. To prevent these problems, as your MINI dealer, we’d like to give you some advice on how to check tire pressure.
Advice From Your MINI Dealer: How To Check Tire Pressure
The air pressure in your tires isn’t static, it changes due to temperature and external air pressure. Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). In a month, your tires could all lose 1 – 3psi as the tires equalize their pressure with the environment. You can lose 1psi per 10 degrees of external temperature. You can also temporarily gain pressure if your tires are hot.
What Should My Tire Pressure Be?
Your tire pressure is listed in your car’s manual, and it’s also displayed on a plaque on the doorjamb of your passenger door. Your tires will also have a recommended tire pressure on them. The correct pressure for your car is the one displayed on your car.
You may also find that you have different tire pressures for your front tires, rear tires, and spare. The reason for this some of your tires carried greater weight than others. A front-wheel-drive car has more weight in the front, so its tires will have a higher pressure on the front than on the rear tires.
How to Test the Tire Pressure
You can check your tire pressure with an analog or digital gauge. These gauges attach to the tire nozzle and register the pressure inside the tire. Analog gauges are available as either the stick type or the dial. A dial gauge has a face that displays the pressure. The stick gauge displays the pressure on the stick marked in psi.
Analog and digital gauges will both display the correct temperature. All you need to do is to remove the nozzle cap on the tire, connect the tire pressure reader to the nozzle, and the reader will do its work.
Top Up the Air
Once you know your current tire pressure, compare it to your car’s required pressure. Fill your tires to the correct pressure at the gas station or with your compressor. If you drive on tires with low pressure, the underinflated tires will become a drag and reduce engine performance or even blow. Overinflated tires can easily heat up and create a blowout.
Now you know how to test your pressure. If your tires are showing signs of wear, we can fit replacements for you. Come in and see us at Tom Bush MINI.
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