Tire Pressure
The most important maintenance you can perform for your tires, and your vehicle, is keeping your tires inflated to the correct air pressure. Maintaining the proper air pressure is essential for tire life, performance, and fuel economy. Overinflation or underinflation can both cause uneven tire wear or catastrophic tire damage. In cooler weather, tires can lose around one pound of air per month. Using nitrogen will help to slow down this natural air loss, but even tires with nitrogen should be checked often. Checking tire pressure will give you the benefits of properly inflated tires, but will also alert you of any possible tire leaks. Be sure to check your tire pressure before driving, when the tires are cooler, to get a more accurate reading.
Tire pressure varies greatly for different vehicles. Most cars produced after 1968 list the original tire size and inflation pressure, including the spare tire, on a vehicle placard. This placard is usually located on the driver-side door or door jam, (Ford vehicles list theirs on the rear passenger door jam), glove box door, fuel door, or engine compartment. Truck tire pressure varies by the load the vehicle is carrying, however you can locate a general pressure in the truck's manual.
Key Things To Remember:
- Check your tire pressure monthly
- Check your tire pressure before driving, when the tires are cooler
- In cooler weather, tires can lose around one pound of air a month
- Using nitrogen slows down natural air loss in tires
