Car Tire Pressure

Paying attention to car tires is as important as paying attention to fuel economy and maintenance. Proper tire pressure is extremely important when you are driving, as it makes the journey comfortable, smooth, safe and hassle free. It is extremely important for getting great gas mileage and also increase the life of your car tires.

Every vehicle has a specified tire pressure. If you've just purchased a new vehicle, then the tire pressure would be written on the sticker inside the driver's door.

The normal pressure for most cars is 32 to 35 psi, and the best way to check it is when the tires are cold, when your automobile has been parked overnight or at least for 5 hours. The logic behind this is, as your car moves, its tires roll on the street causing friction and generating heat, thus, increasing tire pressure.

The correct tire pressure is decided on the weight and dimensions of the car, and how it is placed on the tire. While buying a new or used car, ask the dealer about the average tire pressure. In most cases, rear tires have more pressure than the front ones. The simple reason being that the rear ones are the driving force of the vehicle.

An average person drives around 12,000 miles in a year on under inflated tires, due to which more than 145 gallons of gas is used. If you drive your car with under inflated or soft tires, your car gives out more than 57.5 billion pounds of toxic gases in the atmosphere, yearly.

Fully inflated tires are a much better option as they save you from excess fuel consumption and also minimize emissions. The correct air pressure makes sure that you car doesn't skid and doesn't collide while taking a turn. Soft tires cause a lot of problems while driving and they also skid on the roads.

In the United States, a law has been passed to curb the number of road accidents due to under inflated tires. Since 2008, every new car has a wireless tire pressure monitoring system. This system will signal the driver if the tire pressure falls below 25% of its psi mark. This move has significantly reduced the number of fatalities over the years.

Even auto mechanics advise their customers to check their tire pressure at least twice a month for safety. Although, remember that replacement tires have a different psi rating than the tires which are on road. Remember to check the pressure when tires are cold. It's better to check tire pressure before embarking on a journey, to avoid inaccurate readings.