Did you know that driving with under-inflated or over-inflated tires is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous ? You can avoid this by regularly checking the amount of air in your tires. What tire pressure is appropriate in summer and winter? How do you know if the air volume is incorrect? Check out our tips!
Why is it worth checking your tire pressure?
Low or high tire pressure is usually not felt immediately. If the air losses are small, the driver may not even realize that there is a problem. Meanwhile, driving with incorrect tire pressure for a long time can cause serious damage.
Why is it worth checking tire pressure ? Here are the most important reasons:
- faster tire wear - when there is too little air in them, they wear out on the edges, when too much - on the sides;
- faster wear of the suspension - when the tire pressure is too low, the shock absorbers are unable to adequately protect the suspension system while driving;
- improper operation of shock absorbers and springs - if the tire pressure is too high, these elements wear out faster.
This is not a complete answer to the question: why should we check tire pressure ? How much air is in the tires also affects driving comfort and safety . This is mainly due to too high pressure , which lengthens the braking distance and reduces tire grip. Driving on such tires also causes more noise. In turn, if the tire pressure is too low, driving dynamics deteriorate and the car becomes more difficult to maneuver.
In extreme cases, a tire may even burst due to incorrect pressure. Why does this sometimes happen? An underinflated tire heats up faster and may burst suddenly when driving at high speed.
What is the tire pressure in your car? We tell you where to find information
The tire pressure should depend on several factors: the size and weight of the car, the number of people transported and the amount of luggage. To put it simply, the bigger and heavier the car, the more air its tires need.
Information about what tire pressure is appropriate for your car model is easy to find. You can use:
- owner's manual - the parameters are given there ( how many atmospheres in the tires ) depending on the number of people and the load of the car;
- stickers on the inside of the driver's or passenger's door - this is a useful hint if you do not have the vehicle's logbook with you;
- internet search engine - just enter the query: "what is the pressure in the tires of a truck" or "how much air is in the tires of a bus" and provide the model of your car, and you will quickly receive the necessary information.
In case you cannot find data about your car model, you can use the general rule that the universal pressure in car tires should be 2.2 bar.
How much air in winter tires and how much in summer tires?
Did you know that the optimal tire pressure should vary depending on the outside air temperature? The differences are not big, but it is worth taking them into account. What is the correct pressure in summer tires ? In warmer seasons, you can inflate your tires to the pressure recommended in the owner's manual. How much air should there be in winter tires ? The appropriate pressure is assumed to be approximately 0.2 bar higher than the general recommendations. If you usually inflate your tires to the standard level of 2.2 bar, increase the air volume to 2.4 bar in winter.
How to check tire pressure?
The easiest way to check car tire pressure is at a well-equipped gas station. Most such places have publicly available electronic pressure gauges . You can also check the amount of air in your tires during a visit to a car service.
How often should tire pressure be checked ? Experts say to do this on average once a month . Why is it worth checking tire pressure regularly ? Introducing such a habit will allow you to quickly detect any irregularities and avoid damaging the tire. It is also worth going to a gas station or a service center equipped with a pressure gauge if something worries you and you suspect that there is too little or too much air in the tires.
Newer car models are often equipped with TMPS pressure sensors that constantly check the amount of air. How do tire pressure sensors work ? These devices are located inside the wheel, which means that they are constantly under air pressure. When the amount of air in the tire changes, the sensor detects it and communicates with the driver via a radio transmitter, displaying information on the monitor or dashboard. Pressure sensors are quite popular - you will find them, among others: among our Iveco parts .
