If you're looking for “how to check tire pressure?” Here's all you need to do:
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
- Choose the right tire pressure gauge
- Choose your parking location
- Use the air pressure gauge
- Compare the tire reading to the recommendations
- Check the other tires
Your vehicle's tires need to be inflated all the time properly. Otherwise, you might deal with significant issues with fuel economy and vehicle handling. Furthermore, without proper air pressure in your tires, the tires might wear out prematurely.
One of the first steps in maintaining your vehicle's layers is to understand how to check the tire pressure. This way, whenever you notice an abnormal behavior of your vehicles, you can immediately check the tire pressure and confirm whether it's coming from an issue with the tire pressure or something else.
Luckily, there are many methods that you can implement by yourself without needing a professional to check the tire pressure and confirm whether it needs inflation or not. This article walks you through a step-by-step procedure on checking the tire pressure, and it will also help you learn how to inflate the tires or release extra air from the tires.
When should I check the tire pressure?
Before we go into the details about “how to check tire pressure?” Let's first confirm how often you should check the tire pressure. While it's not very complicated to check your vehicle's tire pressure, it is something that you must do regularly but not every day unless your vehicle has some issues.
According to experts, checking the tire pressure should happen once every month and whenever there is a significant drop or change in the ambient temperature. For example, according to statistics, a difference of 10 degrees in the ambient temperature might lead to one to two pounds per square inch variation in the tire pressure.
Many experts also recommend that you must check the tire pressure regularly despite your vehicle’s status. In other words, if the tire finds to you, it shouldn't be the only sign to confirm that the tires are in good shape. Therefore, you still must check the tire pressure once every month even though the tire looks good to you.
There are some instances where you must check the tire pressure immediately, especially when you see a warning light on the dashboard. Some vehicles might raise warning lights depending on your vehicle type whenever the tire pressure drops below a certain threshold. When that happens, it could indicate that something suddenly happened to the tires, and you should take immediate action to get it resolved before dealing with complications.
What is the ideal tire pressure?
Before you move any step further on learning how to check the tire pressure, it is important to understand the typical and most ideal tire pressure, so you do not exceed or have your vehicle with a lower pressure level.
First, the standard units for checking the tire pressure are the PSI or pounds per square inch. Most vehicles are recommended to have a PSA level between 27 and 35. However, this range might not be applicable for a larger commercial vehicle, so you must refer to reveals with the owner’s manual to get an idea about the DLPSI level for your car.
One of the most critical pieces of information that you must know is PS I level marked on your vehicle’s tires. It is extremely important to know that the PSI level on your tires does not represent the ideal tire pressure. Instead, it means this is the maximum PSI your tire can handle. Therefore, do not get the tire pressure in your tire close or beyond that number.
How to check tire pressure?
Since checking the tires is an essential skill that helps eliminate dealing with complicated situations, especially when the tires are not included in condition, it is recommended that you learn how to check your tires without needing a professional. This way, you can save a ton on labor costs, and having this skill by yourself is extremely convenient, especially if you're in locations where there are no mechanic shops nearby.
- Choose the right tire pressure gauge
If you're planning and checking the tire pressure yourself, it might be worth investing in purchasing a little tire pressure. If you look in the market, you'll see a long list of brands for tire pressures gauges. Therefore, we recommend choosing a gauge that works for you and doesn't break your budget. Some expensive gauges might be more for expert mechanics, and you might not necessarily have to purchase the most expensive one.
- Choose your parking location
When checking the tire pressure, you want to ensure that your vehicle is completely parked and not moving. Therefore, it cannot choose an area where it's flat and not on a hill to check the tire pressure. If this is not an ideal situation, you might not necessarily have two because it's optional. However, you must confirm that your vehicle is set to park and probably need to engage the parking gear for more security.
Locate and remove the air valve on the tire
Once you're ready, locate the air valve on your vehicle tires and remove its cap. Keep in mind that you must keep the cap in a safe location so you don't lose it because it's a very small object, and it can be very easy for you to lose it.
- Use the air pressure gauge
Insert the air pressure gauge inside the air valve and monitor the reading on the gauge. Usually, whatever gauge you decide to purchase should have a manual that helps you read the gauge. Some gauges are equipped with dial points that are easy to read, while others might be bar indicators.
- Compare the tire reading to the recommendations
After monitoring the tire gauge reading, computer the value to your vehicle owner’s manual’s recommendations. If you notice that the tire pressure is lower than the manual's recommendations, you must inflate the tires and add more pressure. However, if you realize that the tire pressure is at the upper limit or beyond, you might want to release some air from the tires, which is not rare, especially during the summer season. In summer, the air is expected to expand more which increases the pressure on the walls of your tires, and that's why you'll notice that the tire pressure reading is much higher than what it was during the winter season.
- Check the other tires
Once you confirm that the tire pressure is as recommended, close the air valve and move on to check the pressure on the other tires.
How to inflate my vehicle's tire?
After checking the tire pressure, if you realize that the tire doesn't have the right pressure level, you might want to use an air compressor to increase the pressure. Here's all you need to do to inflate your vehicle's tire:
- Choose the air compressor
You need a specific type of air compressor that is suitable for inflating your vehicle's tires. Many gas stations have these air compressors where you can use. You can also purchase one small air compressor that you can regularly use, especially if your vehicle has issues with the tires. But, again, we recommend that you go through the main pros and cons of each air compressor before making a final purchase and breaking your budget.
Most drivers prefer to use what's known as the free air stations, where you get free service for inflating your vehicle's tires. Therefore, if you don't know about those and haven't checked around your area, now might be a good time to be prepared so you don't get stuck with vehicle tire pressure issues.
Remember that some air stations have automated air towers, which means that it's not a manual gauge or air compressor that you can try by yourself and fill the air pressure in your tire. Instead, it is a digital tower that you must input a specific DSI level to go inside the tires. Therefore, it is critical to know that you must input the tire pressure to add to the existing tire pressure.
For example, if your tire pressure reads 15 and you would like to get up to 27, you will subtract the 15 from the 27th to get 12 PSI, and that's what you want to enter in the automated air tower.
- Remove the air valve cap
If the air valve cap is still removed, then you can move on to the next steps. However, if you decide to inflate the tires at a gas station, you need to remove the air valve cap again.
- Use the air compressor
Once you're ready, you can go ahead and use the air compressor by inserting the nozzle in the air valve and pressing on the hose to allow air to flow automatically inside the tired.
- Check the tire pressure
After a couple of minutes of inflation, it is recommended that you take a look at the tire pressure before continuing inflating the tires, so you don't over-inflate it. If you notice that the entire still doesn't have proper air pressure, you can again use the air compressor to inflate it.
- Repeat the process
After each time you use the air compressor, it is recommended that you check the air pressure at least four three to five times before getting to the optimum pressure level.
- Close the air valve cap
After properly inflating the tire, close the air valve cap. In some scenarios, the air valve cap might not be in good condition, so you might need to replace it with a new one.
How to deflate my vehicle's tires?
Releasing air from your vehicle's tires is not complicated and doesn't need any types of tools except the tire pressure gauge to check between now and then about whether you got to the right pressure level or not.
All you must do is press on the small bead or black dot on your vehicle's pressure gauge until you hear air escaping out of the tire. It's recommended that you do not release a large amount of air unless you check in between about whether you got to the right pressure level or not; otherwise, you might risk over deflating the tires and needing to use an air compressor to inflate it again.
Conclusion
Maintaining the proper pressure level in your vehicle's tires is extremely important to prevent issues and protect the vehicle. Therefore, learning how to check the tire pressure is essential and helps you save a ton on labor costs by doing the job yourself.
This article provided you with a step-by-step procedure on how to check the tire pressure. It also helped you understand how to inflate the tire if there isn't enough pressure. Finally, the article walked you through another step-by-step procedure on how to release some of your tires if the tire pressure exceeded the maximum threshold.
Of course, if your vehicle has major mechanical problems associated with the engine or the transmission, it might not be worth your time and investment in fixing the tires because there are much more complicated things to worry about. That's when experts recommend that you evaluate the situation and see whether it's worth selling your vehicle and using its value towards purchasing a better car.
Cash Cars Buyer is willing to remove your vehicle within one to three days only! Cash Cars Buyer is one of the top-rated car removal companies in the nation that guarantees to pay you the top dollars and provide you with free towing despite your living location around the United States.
Our process is very straightforward and doesn't take more than a couple of days to get your car removed safely and for the most money.
All it takes you is to:
- Describe your car’s type and condition
- Receive our instant free quote
- Accept the quote
- Get your car removed and receive your cash payment on the spot!
To learn more about our process and our teen, you can reach out to us by giving us a call at 866-924-4608 or visit our home page click on the free instant online offer.