Importance of Good Tire Pressure

Mechanical gauges are accurate and inexpensive.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re slamming gears down the quarter-mile or cruising in your Impala to a Sunday swap meet, proper tire pressure is the key component to safety and performance. A high-end, mechanical gauge is a bit larger than the “pen style” you may be accustomed to, but for the minimal amount of space it uses in your glove box, a mechanical gauge is well worth it. For normal driving it is recommended that motorists check their tire pressure at least once every month, but for serious enthusiasts, you literally cannot check them too often. Also remember that a Quality set of Tires is also important.

Safety First

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Statistics, 12% to 13% of all auto accidents are due to mechanical failures such as improper tire pressure and poor vehicle maintenance.

The wrong tire pressure can also result in uneven tire wear.

Too low of tire pressure causes poor gas mileage.

Increased road noise and vibration can be noticed with improper tire pressure.

Sudden weather changes can drastically affect tire pressure.

How To Check Tire Pressure

Every car owner needs to know how to properly check their tire pressure. Maintaining tire pressure is a simple task requiring only an air machine and a gauge.

Find out your tire’s recommended pressure. Directions for the proper inflation in Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) can be found in most vehicle owner’s manuals or inscribed on the sidewall of each tire.

Unscrew the tire stem caps located on the rim of each wheel.

Using a good gauge, measure each tire’s pressure by placing the receiving end of the gauge on top of the valve stem. The reading should be within 5 PSI of the manufacturer’s suggested pressure.

If the tire pressure gauge is lower or higher than 5 PSI of manufacturer’s specifications, hook an active air machine’s nozzle to the valve stem to increase pressure. If you hear air escaping rapidly, you need to squeeze the nozzle on to the valve stem more firmly until it’s in place. Now the tire is inflating.

Re-check all of the tires’ pressure and replace the tire stem caps to make sure the valve stems stay clean

Pressure and Performance

Properly measured tire pressure is essential for all serious drag racing enthusiasts.

If you’re running high-performance tires such as drag radials, D.O.T.-legal slicks or full drag slicks, an ordinary gas station tire gauge will never be up to the task of accurately reading tire pressure. Drag racers use extraordinarily low tire pressure to launch off the line. Without a consistent gauge for tire pressure, racers would never be able to take off down the drag strip, let alone pop wheelies at the Christmas tree. For more Information of Tires and Truck Accessoriesvisit us at 4WheelOnline.com.

By Sean Bowes
Posted on October 31st, 2013

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