When you inspect your vehicle, also remember to check the air pressure on the tires. Having the air pressure checked can help you to have a safe and efficient vehicle when you drive. If the tires are not at the correct pressure, they will travel poorly and wear unevenly. The tread will wear incorrectly. This can result in the tires needing to be replaced sooner than they typically should. It can also end up costly you a lot more in the long run, because you will have to purchase a new set of tires.
The Advantages of Having Correct Tire Inflation
Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure helps optimize tire performance and fuel economy. Correct tire inflation pressure allows drivers to experience tire comfort, durability and performance designed to match the needs of their vehicles. Tire deflection, where the tread and sidewall flexing where the tread comes into contact with the road, will remain as originally designed and excessive sidewall flexing and tread squirm will be avoided. Heat buildup will be managed and rolling resistance will be appropriate. Proper tire inflation pressure also stabilizes the tire’s structure, blending the tire’s responsiveness, traction and handling.
Disadvantages of Under inflation
An under inflated tire cannot maintain its shape and becomes flatter than intended while in contact with the road. If a vehicle’s tires are under inflated by only six pounds per square inch, it could lead to tire failure. Additionally, the tire’s tread life could be reduced by as much as twenty five percent. Lower inflation pressure will allow the tire to deflect or bend more as it rolls. This will build up internal heat, increase rolling resistance and cause a reduction in fuel economy of up to five percent. You would experience a significant loss of steering precision and cornering stability. While six pounds per square inch does not seem excessively low, remember, it usually represents about twenty percent of the tire’s recommended pressure.
Disadvantages of Over inflation
An over inflated tire is stiff and unyielding and the size of its footprint in contact with the road is reduced. If a vehicle’s tires are over inflated by six pounds per square inch, they could be damaged more easily when running over potholes or debris in the road. Higher inflated tires cannot isolate road irregularities well, causing them to ride harsher. However, higher inflation pressures usually provide an improvement in steering response and cornering stability up to a point. This is why participants who use street tires in autocrosses, track events and road races run higher than normal inflation pressures. The pressure must be checked with a quality air gauge as the inflation pressure cannot be accurately estimated through visual inspection. You can bring the vehicle in and we can inspect the air pressure in the tires for you. This will help ensure they are able to rotate, as they need to be when you travel. If they are damaged, we can advise you on how they should be repaired.