Find Your Vehicle’s Recommended Tire Pressure in Ardmore, OK

Where to Find Your Vehicle’s Recommended Tire Pressure

Knowing the right tire pressure for your wheels is crucial for your safety and the performance of your car. The recommended tire pressure can vary depending on your vehicle and tires. Your car will offer the manufacturer's recommendations for tire pressure with an informational sticker in the cabin of the vehicle. Depending on your ride, this sticker could be on the door edge, doorpost, or glove box. The sticker usually gives guidance for all your tires - front, rear, and spare - so make sure you stick to those numbers. Even if you switch up your tires, always follow these guidelines for new ones of the same size.

These recommendations are based on readings from a tire pressure gauge. For accurate results, check the pressure early in the morning or at least three hours after driving so the tires have cooled down, as driving heats the tires and can inaccurately affect the readings.

What Happens If You Drive With a Wrong Tire Pressure?

Driving with underinflated tires is a major cause of tire troubles. Low air levels can lead to quicker wear and tear, poor handling, and lower fuel efficiency. On the other hand, overinflated tires are more prone to damage from rough roads and make for a bumpier ride. So, it's vital to know what's best for your wheels.

For instance, if 35 psi is recommended for your tires, don't let them drop below 31.5 psi before adding air. However, you can safely go up by about 10% without issues. If 35 psi is ideal, going up to 44 psi won't blow out a tire.

How Does Tire Pressure Affect Driving?

Both underinflating and overinflating your tires can affect how smoothly your car moves. Using tires with pressure below the recommended ones may cause shaky steering and guzzle more gas. On the other hand, overinflating your tires results in a rougher ride, with every road bump feeling intense. It can also wear out tires faster, which isn't great news for road safety.

How to Check Your Tire Pressure

Knowing how to check tire pressure is vital to stay safe and keep your tires in shape. First off, you'll need a tire pressure gauge. You have three main options:

• Stick-type gauges: These have a rod that slides in and out of a sleeve to measure air pressure.
• Dial gauges: They've got a numbered dial with a hand like a watch.
• Digital gauges:These show numbers on a screen.

When you're ready to check, stick the gauge into the valve stem and press it on firmly. Reading the results depends on the type of gauge you have. For stick-type ones, look at the number on the rod that pops out. Dial gauges are read like a watch. For the digital ones, check the number on the screen.

If you ever find yourself without a tire gauge and your car doesn't have a low tire pressure indicator, there are a few ways to check if your tires need air.

• Give your tires a feel. Press them with your hand or foot. Are they firm, or do they feel soft? If they're softer, it's likely time to add some air.
• Check for any visible flattening in the tires. If you see any, it's a good indicator that they need more air.
• Add some weight to your vehicle. If you notice the tires sagging under the extra load, it's probably a sign that they need inflating.
• Pay attention to how your car feels when driving. Are there any unusual noises when turning? Difficulty steering? A rougher ride than usual? These could all indicate low tire pressure.

Additional Tire Care at Toyota of Ardmore

If you want to maintain the quality of your tires, it's not only about maintaining the correct pressure. Remember also to have tire rotations and wheel alignments regularly. When your tires need care, visit Toyota of Ardmore in Ardmore, OK, for all your tire service requirements. Book an appointment with us, and we'll handle everything else.