Preparing to check your tire pressure is simple: purchase your own tire gauge at an auto parts store, dealership or other retail store. You can also go to a gas station or other location that offers an air pump. This is sometimes free, but the machine might also collect money for charity. There are also stations that have air pumps that are digital, where you can set the desired amount of pounds of air and then pump and the machine will cut off on its own. Most automatic air pumps have a gauge attached, but if you were, for example, using your own air compressor, you would definitely need to buy your own.
ONCE A MONTH you should check your vehicle’s tire pressure for the following reasons:
– Most tires naturally lose air over time, especially if parked on a concrete surface.
– Tires could lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole, speed bump or other object or if you hit the curb when parking.
– With radial tires, it is usually not possible to tell how full the tire is of air just from visually inspecting it.
– It is also a good idea to check for any punctures at this time. You should inspect your tires thoroughly to look for any gashes or exposed wires, as well as any debris, such as a nail or a sharp rock, that may have put a small hole in the tire without actually popping it.
Therefore, to get an accurate reading, you must measure the pressure when the tires are cold or compensate for the extra pressure in warm tires. Remember, the correct pressure is what the vehicle manufacturer recommends (either located in the manual or on the inside of the door where the doorjamb is). Do not go by what the tire itself says the pressure should be.
Extra Tip: When your tire goes flat continuously after filling it up, but lasts until you stop the vehicle for a period of time, it most likely has a leak. You can buy “stopleak” that you spray in through the valve where you would fill the tire with air, but if you aren’t sure where the hole is and are concerned that it might be too big to fix in that manner (as some are) you can take some really soapy water and rub it around the outside of the tire and then press it gently to force some air out- you will see a bubble when you do this and voila! You have found your hole.
