Unknowingly having low tire pressure can have numerous harmful impacts on your car and even lead to severe accidents. It can cause flat tires or lead to explosions. On top of that, it can also reduce gas mileage, causing your car to release more fuel, meaning that you’d have to refill gas more often.
On the other hand, overinflated tires can cause your ride to be extremely bumpy and loud, causing you to lose focus and control, which might lead to accidents.
Learn how to check your tire pressure on your own, and you’ll never have to worry about these problems again. A monthly tire pressure check is an easy, inexpensive way to ensure your safety, especially before going on a long trip.
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How to check tire pressure with a gauge
Before you begin, make sure your tires are cold; do not attempt to check the pressure after you’ve just come back from a car ride. Let your car cool down overnight.
Step 1: Detach the cap from the tire air valve
Find where the air valve of the tire is. Detach the cap from the air valve and place it somewhere close, so you don’t lose it.
Step 2: Press the tire pressure gauge onto the open valve
Now, Hold and press the tire pressure gauge onto the open valve stem for a few seconds. Press it hard to avoid accidentally releasing air. You may hear a hissing sound, which happens when air is coming out.
Step 3: Read the pressure and Compared it to the recommended Pressure
Using a pencil gauge, you’ll see a dial/bar that points to the tire’s pressure. And if you’re using a digital gauge, you can read the pressure from the screen. Compare the number on the gauge with the recommended tire pressure, which you can check from the manual of your car’s owner.
Step 4: Place back the cap on the valve
Finally, Place back the cap on the valve if the tire pressure reading matches the recommended pressure. If not, you would have to refill the tire with air or release air depending on the number on the gauge.
Step 5: Repeat it with each tire
Repeat the same process with each tire of your car.
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How to check tire pressure without a gauge
If you don’t have a tire pressure gauge in hand at the moment, do not be troubled; there are other ways you can use to check the tire pressure of your car. Here are two easy methods that require no tools:
Eyeball Method:
This one is very difficult to master without experience and practice. However, once you get the hang of it, it’ll save you a lot of time.
All you’ve got to do is park your car on a level surface, look at the back of your tires from a distance, and compare if any of the tires are bulging; this is a sign of low pressure.
Hand pressure:
You can also use your hands to check the tire pressure. Feel the tire with your hand, if it feels too soft, the pressure is low, and if it feels hard as stone, then the pressure is too high.
Check cargo:
One side of your car may be weighed down due to the weight of the contents you are carrying inside. If one side of your vehicle dips down too low, you can try inflating the tire on that side to balance out the weight.
Check PSI:
A standard tire PSI is always included in a vehicle owner’s manual or as a sticker inside the driver’s side door. This number tells you the amount of pressure your tire will be able to put up with.
It usually shows the lowest PSI that your tire should have, but you can increase or decrease the PSI as required. E.g., lots of sedans and minivans have a recommended PSI of 27-32; however, these tires can withstand up to 40.
Based on the model of your car, you may have different recommended PSI for the front and back tires.
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