Why Tire Pressure Matters

Why Tire Pressure is Key to Your Car and Wallet

A critical part of tire maintenance is keeping your vehicle's tires inflated to the recommended pressure from your automaker. When tires have the correct amount of air pressure, they last longer and ensure vehicle safety. Keep reading to learn more and schedule a service appointment at Ed Martin Honda.

Dangers and cost impact

Low tire pressure can lead to longer braking distances and less responsive steering and handling. This is dangerous when you need to quickly brake or to turn quickly to avoid colliding with another vehicle.

On top of this, low tire pressure allows the sidewalls of tires to flex, which generates heat. While moderate heat will accelerate the wear of your tire tread, high heat may lead to complete loss of tread or even tire blowouts.

Underinflated tires have a higher resistance to rolling which lowers your vehicle's fuel efficiency. They also wear quicker at the outer edges of the tread which leads to replacing tires more frequently than you would with a properly inflated tire.

High tire pressure is less of an issue especially since modern tires can withstand pressure that exceeds what's recommended for normal driving. Still, consistently overinflated tires lead to a less compliant ride and wear quicker in the center of the tread, which means tire replacement becomes quicker than it would be with properly inflated tires.

Figuring out the right tire pressure

Refer to your owner's manual or the decal on the inside of the driver's side doorframe to see what the recommended tire pressure is for your vehicle. If your vehicle is a model prior to 2003, tire pressure information may be found inside the glove box door, fuel filler flap, or the trunk lid. Do not use pressure molded into the tire sidewall. The number molded into the sidewall is indicative of the tire's load carrying capacity, not the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle.

Auto manufacturers will provide you with basic tire pressure specifications that may be different between your front and rear tires. Higher pressures increase the vehicle's load capacity and reduce heat buildup.

Some pickup trucks and SUVs have light-truck tires marked as "LT" on the door jam decal. The recommended tire pressure for these tires can vary depending on a vehicle's load and usage.

More tire maintenanace

It's very important to stay up to date with your tire maintenance. You can start by scheduling service at Ed Martin Honda. If you want to have a member of our service team check your tires, use our Ed Martin Honda online scheduling form to schedule an appointment.