Monday, June 14, 2010

Preparing your tires for seasonal driving

When you are preparing your car for driving within the summer, you will find a wide range of systems you should have a look at. One that is often overlooked, though, is tire pressure. The tires on your vehicle are where the rubber meets the road, so they are worth spending a little bit of time on. Checking out your tires can be simple – just remember a couple of very significant things.

Article Resource: Getting ready for seasonal driving – Tire pressure By Car Deal Expert

Checking your tire pressure

Checking your tire pressure could be relatively easy. Even if your car does have a built-in tire pressure sensor, you need to check your pressure on a regular basis. Most built-in tire pressure sensors measure pressure by measuring the rotation of the tires. Instead, use a stick, dial or digital tire pressure gauge to check the pressure on all five tires, including your spare. You should have a look at the tire pressure when the tires are nevertheless cold.

Ensuring your tire is properly inflated

The driving conditions you are in can effect the proper tire pressure. There is a tire pressure printed on the sidewall, but that is the maximum tire pressure, not recommended. Temperature and driving conditions can change the pressure of your tires up or down by 10 pounds per square inch. The recommended tire pressure for your car is typically printed within the owner's manual or side panel. A tire that is inflated to the maximum pressure when it is cold could expand and explode when the temperature goes up.

The balancing act of fuel efficiency and traction

The inflation of your tire has two separate effects on the operation of your automobile. A low-pressure tire can get you a lot more traction, which is useful within the winter or on slippery roads. If your tire is properly inflated, though, you’ll get better gas mileage. Unless you live in an area where roads are very slippery in winter conditions, you need to keep your tires inflated to the recommended level.



No comments: