Billion Auto Group Official Blog
Like most things, following the directions will yield the best results
By Product Expert | Posted in Tips on Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 at 7:12 pm
Does tire pressure need to be adjusted at different times of the year?
Modern tires are easy to overlook. As long as an owner rotates them regularly and avoids hitting potholes or picking up a loose nail, tires don’t require much attention. In the old days, this wasn’t the case and vehicle owners had a lot to worry about when it came to their tires – and we’re not even talking about finding, replacing and storing snow tires or tire chains. A fairly common customer misconception that lingers around the Billion Auto Group Service Department is that a tire press needs to be adjusted at different times of the year. Not only is this outdated information, but you could be making your vehicle less safe, not to mention causing your tires to deteriorate faster.
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How much pressure do my tires need?
Unfortunately, there is no one right answer as to how much pressure should be in a tire. There are simply too many variables at play include type, weight and the kind of tire it is. If you drive a standard passenger vehicle like a sedan, crossover SUV or medium-duty pickup truck, the tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. This information can be found on the sidewall of the tires, in the owner’s manual and printed on a label on the driver’s side door.
Do under-inflated tires get better traction?
Modern tires are designed to be most effective when they’re inflated to the proper pressure threshold. Underinflated tires will indeed make more contact with the road surface, but that will also cause the engine to have to work harder which is going to hurt fuel economy. Overinflated tires won’t have enough tread contacting the ground, which will compromise control during an emergency.
A lot of new vehicles available for sale and lease at Billion Auto Group will come with a tire-pressure-monitoring system. This is a great tool, but most will only alert you to an underinflated tire. Our service experts suggest checking your tire pressure regularly.
Why is my tire losing air?
Obviously, the most common reason a tire loses pressure is that it has suffered a puncture. However, air will expand and contract as the temperature changes outside. If it’s warm during the day and the temperature suddenly drops when the sun goes down, be sure to pop a pressure gauge on the tire’s stem and fill as needed.
If you need a new set of tires, or a new vehicle to go with those new tires, make an appointment with Billion Auto Group today.
