Inflating your tires is a must-do. It isn’t really an option, but the majority of us put it off until last minute, anyway. Don’t believe me? According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 33% of light trucks and 25% of cars have at least one underinflated tire. What’s more, 3.8% of vehicles have all four tires underinflated. But we understand that this is one of those kinds of things we overlook because it isn’t top priority. Usually inflating tires doesn’t cross our mind until we are told to do it, by a friend/family member, or mechanic.

So what do you need to know? Well, making sure you’re inflating tires correctly requires that we follow rules. But don’t stress! These are really simple, and if you ever forget you can just come on back to this post and give yourself a fresh reminder. Here are a few things to keep in mind next time you fill ’em up!

4 Rules of Inflating Tires

Rule 1 

You need to check your tire pressure at least once a month. Normally, manufacturers would recommend that you check it once a week, but rather than writing an alert once a week on your phone, you can simply follow this rule of thumb – If you need to get gas, then you need to check your tire pressure. Just commit this to memory and you and your vehicle will be good for quite a while.

Rule 2 

When you are going to check your tires, make sure they are “cold.” What does cold with the quotes mean? It means that your car must at least have been inactive for 4-5 hours. The best way to get a great reading when checking the pressure of your tire is to do so immediately after it has sat out overnight.

Rule 3 

CHECK THE STICKER!!!! Usually found on the driver’s door, this sticker will give you the best recommendation on how much you should inflate your tire so that you do not pass the max PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). Too much pressure in could reduce the traction your tires have and cause a blowout.

Rule 4 

For those that either live in areas where cold weather is persistent, or if you live in an area that is experiencing cold weather then checking and getting your tires inflated should be a priority. When wintry weather sets in, your tire begins to lose pressure, about 1 psi for every 10 degree drop.

And if in case you’re still on the fence about not following these rules, then let me lay out a little map for you that tells you the negatives of neglecting your tires. First, and foremost, underinflated tires could cause an accident that may result in your death. And, if for some reason, that still doesn’t sway you then here’s another con – underinflated tires increase your tire’s wear. This will burn through a set of $400 tires a year early than they should, and they waste gas. Yeah, not inflating your tires properly will waste your gas. According to the Department of Transportation, an estimated 5 million gallons of fuel per day are wasted due to low tire pressure.

Please don’t be a statistic. Keep your wheels in line, and keep your peace of mind.

If you’re in need of some tire assistance, not to worry! Our service department can help! Our Ed Payne auto dealerships are located conveniently throughout the Rio Grande Valley. From Mission, to Brownsville, and Weslaco in between, it’s our goal to help you find the car you’ve always dreamed of. Stop in and test drive a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Fiat or Alfa Romeo car today!