The PROPER PRESSURE

Experts say that you must check your tire pressure at least once a month and before going on a long trip. Also, make it a habit to check your tires every time you fill up your gas tank. Ideally, tire pressure should be measured when tires are cold—that is, when you have driven less than a mile. Otherwise, your tires may have heated up, increasing the air pressure inside them by several pounds. This is normal. Never “bleed” or reduce the air pressure in a hot tire.

There is no universal “right” pressure for all tires. The proper inflation level will depend on what tires you have, and it may even be different for your front and back tires. To find the correct pressure for your tires, look at the tire information placard that’s mounted inside the frame of the driver’s door, in the glove box or inside the fuel door. You can also get that information in your vehicle owner’s manual and from your tire dealer.

It’s important to be accurate in filling your tires. Don’t try to “eyeball” the pressure—a tire can lose half its pressure without looking flat. Instead, use a reliable tire pressure gauge. It’s also a good idea to have your own gauge, because you can’t always count on the gauge on the air hose at the gas station. According to the NHTSA, less than half the gas stations with air pumps provide a tire pressure gauge for customer use. Even if there is one, it may not be accurate—about 20 percent of the gauges on station pumps are damaged or off by four pounds or more.