How to Check Tire Pressure

Friday, 06 October, 2017

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, learning simple tips can save you time and money, as well as preventing accidents and breakdowns. Some maintenance should be left to the professionals at the Landers Kia Service Department , but some things you can do yourself easily, like checking your tire pressure.

If your tire pressure is low, you are more likely to get a flat tire. Proper tire pressure can improve the longevity of your tires, and even increase fuel efficiency. Stopping to fix a flat can be a major inconvenience.

A tire gauge is cheap ($10-15), can be stored in your car’s glove box or console and is relatively easy to use. There are stick gauges, dial gauges and digital gauges, and the most common is a stick gauge.

Once you have a gauge, you can check your tires’s PSI (pounds per square inch), which is what tire pressure is measured by. Open your driver’s side door and look for the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressures — they can also be found in your owner’s manual. There’s often a difference between the PSI for the front and rear tires, so make sure to check both.

It’s best to check tire pressure once a month when they are cold, meaning after your vehicle has not been driven for a while. We know this isn’t always feasible, but it’s definitely the best time to check.

Unscrew the valve cap on the tire, and evenly apply the gauge onto the valve stem. You need to be sure to press hard enough to make sure the hiss sound disappears.

For each pound you are low, it will be about one second of air on the air compressor. If your car’s tire is supposed to be at 38 and the gauge reads 36, two seconds of air are needed.

To refill your tires, visit most gas stations to find an air compressor (most are digital) or come to our service department and we’ll take care of it, all without you getting out of the car!

For more information on checking tire pressure or proper tire care, give our service department a call at (501) 492-5800.

Image: www.Blog.Allstate.com

Categories : Service , Car Tips

Tags : tire pressure , tires