About Air Pressure
With the right amount of air pressure, your tires will perform better, wear longer and save fuel. The "right amount" of air pressure for the original equipment or same size tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and may be different for front and rear tires.
Where To Find The Correct O.E. Inflation Pressure
You will find the recommended pressure on a placard or sticker in the doorjamb, glove compartment, or near the gas cap. If your vehicle does not have a placard, check the owner's manual or consult the vehicle manufacturer. The tire placard tells you the maximum vehicle load, the cold tire pressure, and the tire size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Using A Tire Pressure Gauge
Check inflation pressure (including the spare) at least once a month and before every long trip. Tires must be checked when they are cold (before they have run a mile). If you must drive over a mile for air, measure and record the underinflation amount of each tire. Upon arriving at the service station, measure each tire's inflation again and if the pressure has increased, adjust the amount of additional air pressure needed. For example, if cold pressure should be 35PSI, but cold pressure was 28PSI, and current pressure is 33PSI, you should inflate the warm tires to 40PSI and recheck them again when cold.
How Do Tires Lose Pressure?
Tires lose pressure naturally through the process of permeation. Changes in outdoor temperature can affect the rate at which tires lose air. This change is more pronounced in hot weather. Generally speaking, a tire will lose one or two pounds of air pressure per month in cool weather or even more in hot weather. Remember, underinflation is the leading cause of tire failure, so check inflation pressure regularly.
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating your tires. Consult your car's owner's manual for the appropriate rotation pattern for your vehicle. Sometimes front and rear tires on a vehicle use different pressures. After rotation, adjust individual tire air pressures. The proper inflation section has more information.
The purpose of regularly rotating tires is to achieve more uniform wear for all tires on a vehicle. Before rotating your tires, always refer to your individual owner's manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period or pattern is specified, you should consider rotating your tires, front to back, every 6000 miles or at least every 7500 miles. Irregular wear may require more frequent rotation.
Popular Rotation Patterns
Sometimes tires cannot be rotated according to popular patterns. Such tires include uni-directional tires with asymmetric tread designs. Also, some vehicles may have different sized tires mounted on the front and rear axles, and these different sized tires may also have rotation restrictions. Check your owner's manual for recommendations for these special cases.
You may have noticed the small weights placed on the rim of your tire. These weights help the tire and wheel assembly remain balanced at all speeds. At high speeds a tire that is not balanced properly can generate severe vibrations. An unbalanced tire and wheel can also lead to irregular treadwear.
Some expensive alloy wheels can be damaged with the use of standard lead weights and may require the use of a coated weight.
Proper alignment is essential for optimum performance and maximum tire life. Misalignment in the front or rear, improperly operating brakes or shock absorbers, bent wheels, worn bushings, and any other mechanical problems can cause uneven and rapid treadwear.
Front-wheel-drive vehicles and those with independent rear suspensions require special attention, and should be checked periodically.
A bad jolt, such as hitting a pothole, can throw your vehicle out of alignment. Such an impact can also bend the rim, causing a loss of air pressure and damage to your tires with little or no visible evidence present.
Uneven Wear
At least once a month, inspect your tires closely for signs of uneven wear. Uneven wear patterns may be caused by improper inflation pressures, misalignment, improper balance, or suspension neglect. If not corrected, further tire damage will occur.
Excessive Wear
When the tread is worn down to one-sixteenth of an inch, the tire is worn out and it is time to replace it. Built-in tread wear indicators, or "wear bars," which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread, will appear on the tire when that point of wear is reached.
Other Things To Look For