3 Reasons Proper Tire Pressure Is Important

It’s March in New England! That means one day it’s freezing, and the next day we’re opening windows and wearing shorts! Not only do these changes in temperature play havoc on our immune systems (who hasn’t gotten a cold, yet?), but it can mess with your tire pressure, too. For every 10-degree change in the outside temperature, your tire pressure can fluctuate 1-2 psi? Most of us don’t pay attention to our tire pressure unless we have one that’s noticeably low. Here are three reasons why having proper tire pressure is vital for your vehicle AND your tires.

Because you want to make sure your tires are wearing evenly

A new set of tires could cost between $300 – $1000! So, we know you want to do everything you can to make sure that your investment lasts as long as possible. In addition to making sure that you’re rotating your tires every 6-8k miles, having proper tire pressure means that your tires will wear more evenly. If your tires wear evenly, you’ll benefit from better handling! You’ll also be able to replace all four tires at the same time. This prevents you from needing to replace one or a pair, which results in an inconsistent ride and unexpected costs.

Because who doesn’t want better gas mileage?

When you keep your tires properly inflated, you’ll benefit from better gas mileage. According to fueleconomy.gov, “You can improve your gas mileage by 0.6% on average—up to 3% in some cases—by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.”

A word of warning, though – you might think that if underinflated tires affect your gas mileage negatively, that overinflating your tires could mean even more improvement. Having overinflated tires MAY increase your mpg, but it also increases how quickly your tire tread wears, impacts ride quality and handling. It can even reduce traction resulting in an uncomfortable and possibly dangerous ride. If you’re looking to increase your mpg there are better, safer ways than overinflating your tires. Try slowing down or reducing the amount of junk in your trunk!

Because proper tire pressure means better handling

Consistently having your tires underinflated can severely weaken the integrity of your tires. According to Brian Haskell, an ASE World Class Master Technician from our Westbrook, ME store, “an underinflated tire creates a weakened sidewall which can cause too much flex and give when cornering. In extreme cases, this can also cause a bead to pop off the rim.” When a bead pops off, it causes your tire to separate from your rim!

There are many reasons for fluctuating tire pressure. But there are just as many reasons why it’s good to make sure your tires are properly inflated! You can also turn to any VIP, and we’ll be happy to check your pressure for FREE! It’s just one of the many services we offer our customers for free at all of our 59 locations. You can see what else we offer for free services here.

Plus, if you’re unsure what the correct tire pressure for your vehicle is or aren’t sure how to check, we can help.  We have a great ‘How To’ video that walks you through step by step how to check your tire pressure here.