Have you ever wondered, “what should my tire pressure be?” Right off the bat, the average is 32 to 35 psi. That’s the answer to the recommended tire pressure for my car question—nothing less and nothing more. Otherwise, you’ll get a handful of problems on your daily drives.
Every tire manufacturer gives different normal tire pressure for cars. So it’s best to gather information on your own vehicle’s specifications.
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Why Does Correct Tire Pressure Matter?
Knowing the exact values of your tire pressures can go a long way to ensure you’re driving optimally. Scenarios such as a flat tire would be the last thing you need from the lack of information about your tires.
Following the recommended tire psi can also be essential for ride quality. Zeroing in on exact values can give you a smoother ride. Being off by just 1 psi can decrease fuel economy by 0.1% while also dropping a tire’s durability by 10%.
Coincidentally, when your tire pressure is too high, expect you’re on for a bumpy ride. The extra pressure on your tires could give your car a lot of bounce while driving from too much air. Therefore, I’d like to recommend for you this article to let air out of a tire properly.
Factors to Consider About Tire Pressure
External elements and other factors can also play a crucial role when figuring out how much psi you’ll need to ensure your vehicle’s tires are in tip-top driving shape.
1. Temperature
Weather and climate should be taken into account when finding good tire pressure. Temperature can influence the pressure inside your tire and throws the exact numbers off.
For high temperatures like in the summer, try lowering the tire pressure from your car by 30 – 32 psi, mainly because high temperatures can increase the pressure inside your tires. Decreasing it essentially off-sets the values and evens everything out.
That said, lower temperatures can also lower your tire pressures down.
So increasing to 35 psi may be a good option. Constantly adjust to the average car tire psi, as knowing when and how you manipulate your tire pressures in terms of temperature could mean safer and more fuel-efficient driving.
2. Type of vehicle
Every vehicle type’s tire pressure may vary. It is imperative to coincide information with a vehicle type‘s recommended tire pressure chart.
- For Cars – 32 – 35 psi
- For SUV – 40 – 42 psi
- For trucks – 50 – 60 psi (larger trucks can go upwards to 105 psi)
3. Weight
Your tires bolster the weight of your vehicle. Tire pressures must be increased where there is more mass to support from the front and rear.
By this logic, increased tire pressures must be raised where your car’s heavy parts are located, like the engine and the transmission.
Furthermore, if you have multiple passengers in your vehicle’s backseat, consider raising your tire pressures to account for the increased weight. However, you must always still be on the recommended tire pressure ranges.
How to Measure Tire Pressure
1. Using a Tire Pressure Gauge
Tire pressure gauges can accurately measure tire pressure.
There are different options on what tire pressure gauge to use–digital being the most accurate. However, all tire pressure gauges are just as effective and could get the job done.
Here are other tire pressure gauges that you can use.
- Analog pressure gauge – Probably the most common in most shops, this pressure gauge looks like a clock with dials on it to let you determine the psi.
- Stick pressure gauge – Typically found on every driver’s trunk, the stick pressure gauge has a ruler-type gauge that can let you know psi levels in a pinch.
2. Checking Tire Pressure Without Tools
Let’s face it. There would always be days when we forgot to bring our tools. While not very accurate, our senses can give us an idea of where our tire pressures are.
Here are methods to consider to check for tire pressure if you don’t have a tire pressure gauge present.
- Eyeballing the tires – Observing how our wheels act can provide us a clue if our car’s tire pressure is low. This can be more apparent if weight is subjected to the vehicle.
- Feeling the tires – By feeling the tires, you can determine if there’s enough pressure inside.
- Handling – If the car handles much differently than before, one of the first things you should consider is the tires. A lack or surplus of tire pressure can affect a tire in a multitude of ways.
Conclusion
Tire pressure can be very tricky to grasp; however, if you arm yourself with enough knowledge, you can maximize the health and durability of your tires. Not only would this keep you safer and save you the hassle of a flat tire, but it can also save you lots of money on car maintenance.
I always check the recommended tire pressure for my car depending on various factors above, including the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.
Remember the multiple ways and factors that can affect proper tire pressures. Adjust accordingly, so you and your car would have a smoother experience.
