Low tire pressure not only lowers gas mileage, itcan be dangerous on the road. Tires inflated below themanufacturer recommended air pressure overheat and can breakdown chemically at high speeds, which can cause a blowout and anaccident. Driving with low tire pressure is stronglydiscouraged.
Most gas stations have a free air pump foryour tires available on the side of the station. Alot of stations will also loan you an air gauge tocheck the tire pressure.
Follow these steps to add air to your tires:
- Park your vehicle by the air dispenser.
- Remove the cap from the tire valve on the first tire.
- Use your tire gauge to check the air pressure in the tire.
- Use the air hose to add air in short bursts.
- Keep checking the pressure until you get it right.
If your vehicle's tires are underinflated by only5 psi (pounds per square inch) it could lead to tirefailure. You can also experience a loss of steering precision andcornering stability. While 5 psi doesn't seem excessivelylow, remember, 5 psi is usually about 20% of thetire's recommended pressure.
Answer: The rule of thumb is that you need to wait threehours with the car parked before the tires are coolenough to get an accurate pressure reading.
The Optimum. You'll find the manufacturer's optimum orrecommended tire pressure for your car on a sticker in thedoor jamb, or in your owner's manual. Some models even place thestickers on the trunk lid, in the console or on the fuel door.Recommended pressure is usually between 30 and 35PSI.
To check the air pressure in yourtires, start by looking in the owner's manual or the inside ofthe driver's door for the standard inflation pressure. Next,unscrew the cap from the valve stem on the tire and pressthe air pressure gauge evenly onto the valvestem.
It is available free all around us in the atmosphere.Yet many gas stations in California still charge customersup to $1.50 to inflate their tires with air, despite alittle-known 1999 law that requires them to provide free airand water to customers who have purchasedgasoline.
Make sure you put your vehicle in park andturn the engine off before pumping gas. Youshould also switch off any auxiliary 12-volt powersources such as phone chargers and cigarette lighters because,while rare, they can be a potential igniter of a fuelfire.
Insert coins into the dispenser and stretch theair hose around to the tire. Unscrew the valve stem cap,then press the tip of the pump to the tip of the airvalve. Hold the hose firmly as you inflate the tire, use thegauge to check the pressure as you go, and adjust asneeded.
If you are using a gas station pump thenyou are out and about, have a flat tire or very littleair in your tires or have a puncture, either way youneed air for your tires and in this scenario it is perfectlyfine to use the gas station air pump once youare careful.
The flat tire "acts as a cushion," according toCar Talk, protecting the rim of the wheel. You can thereforedrive — again, at a slow speed — for hundreds ofyards before your wheel is damaged, "though your tire may nolonger be any good."
- Upgrade to a run-flat tire. Run-flats work like standard tiresbut will survive a puncture for a short period and at a reducedspeed.
- Keep a tire repair kit in your car. Repair kits, which patch asmall hole to keep a tire inflated, are found more commonly in carslacking a spare.
- Make sure you have roadside assistance.
CAUTION: Not every Royal Farms Store offersfree air.
Some Royal Farms stores serve as a conveniencestore only; they do not provide auto services such as gas, tirepressure pump, and vacuum cleaner. I learned this after travelingto several stores looking for free air and did not findit.AutoZone Rewards℠
You don't have to be a mechanic to realize howimportant tires are to a functioning vehicle, but even the besttires will give you a lackluster driving experience if theydon't have the right air pressure. When a tire isflat or very low on air pressure, it can be easydiagnose visually.TPMS Light illuminates while driving
When the TPMS light comes on – and stays on– at least one of your tires is at a lowpressure level. Check the pressure of all of the tires witha gauge and determine the cause of pressure loss and add airor service the tire(s) as appropriate.Find your recommended tire pressure.
Recommended tire pressure usually falls between30-35 PSI.Using a gas station air compressor means your tiresmight be “hot.” If it is necessary toadjust inflation pressure when tires are“hot”, set their pressure to 4 psi (14kPa) above the recommended cold inflation pressure. Afterfilling your tires, use the gauge to check pressureagain.
Cold inflation pressure is the inflationpressure of tires before the car is driven and thetires warmed up. Recommended cold inflationpressure is displayed on the owner's manual and on theplacard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge, pillar,glovebox door or fuel filler flap.
Tire Pressure
- Purchase a trusted tire pressure gauge.
- Check your tires “cold” – before you'vedriven or at least three hours after you've driven.
- Insert tire pressure gauge into the valve stem on yourtire.
- Compare the measured psi to the psi found on the sticker insidethe driver's door of your vehicle or in owner's manual.
How to Let Air Out of a Car Tire
- Locate the valve stem on the tire you want to let air outof.
- Rotate the valve stem cap counterclockwise with your fingers toremove the cap from the stem.
- Place the tip of a flat-head screwdriver over the top of themetal pin and press the pin inward.
Place the gauge over the tire's valvestem and press firmly so that no escaping air can be heard. Thetire gauge will indicate how much pressure isin the tire. Adjust the tire's airpressure if needed. When adding air, push the air hoseinto the valve firmly until the air stopsescaping.
Many car parts places will fill up your tiresfor free. (Autozone).
How to Inflate Bike Tires Without a Pump
- Turn the cap of the compressed air inflator counterclockwise byhand and remove the cap.
- Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the bike tire.
- Insert the neck of the CO2 cartridge into the open end of theinflator fitting.
- Hold the cartridge in place and inflate the tire for severalseconds.
The secret is air.
Most gas stations have a free air pumpfor your tires available on the side of the station. A lotof stations will also loan you an air gauge to checkthe tire pressure.You shouldn't have to pay for air, even if it'sto fill your tires. Free Air Pump lists gas stationsand pumps near you that offer free air for your caror bike. Free Air Pump displays a map populated withuser-submitted gas stations and air stations whereyou can top off your tires.
Where to Get Free for Your Tires
- Live in California or Connecticut.
- Visit a Regional Gas Station or Grocery Store.
- Get a Portable Air Compressor.
- Check Your Car Trunk.
- Ask Your Friend (Who Owns a Compressor)
- Visit Your Oil Change Location.
- Go to a Tire Shop.
- Use a Bike Pump.
Find Free Air for Tires at GasStations
Unfortunately, finding free air for tires is notas easy as it used to be. Some states require all gasstations to offer free air, but most do not. Instates that do not (like Michigan), some gas stationsmay voluntarily offer free air, but most donot.On newer cars, the recommended tire pressure ismost commonly listed on a sticker inside the driver's door. Ifthere's no sticker on the door, you can usually find the specs inthe owner's manual. Most passenger cars will recommend 32 psi to 35psi in the tires when they're cold.
