Air up for safer driving.
Maintaining properly inflated tires is an easy, yet very important maintenance tip. Properly inflated tires make driving safer, extend the life of tires, help reduce harmful emissions into the ozone, and make our nation less dependent on foreign oil. In the U.S., it is estimated that driving with properly inflated tires could reduce gasoline consumption by more than 1.2 billion gallons annually.*
*The Department of Energy, http://www.fs.fed.us/sustainableoperations/documents/TheEcoDriversManual.pdf
We are dedicated to serving the driving public by partnering with retail gas stations, convenience stores and car washes across the United State and in Canada and Europe. Our state-of-the-art tire inflation equipment makes it easy for consumers to inflate their tires for optimal driving safety and fuel efficiency while your business receives additional revenue at no cost to you!
Share these tire tips with your valued customers.
What is proper inflation?
Make sure your tires are inflated to the pound-per-square-inch (psi) specifications recommended for your particular vehicle. This information is usually specified on a sticker inside the driver’s door jam, in the glove compartment or in the vehicle owner’s manual. Do not use the tire pressure listed on the tire itself—that’s the maximum pressure to which a tire can be inflated, not the pressure for optimum driving and efficiency.
When is the best time to check tire pressure?
Check tire pressure first thing in the morning before driving or at least three hours after last driving. Temperature can also affect tire pressure. Check when the temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Tires can lose a pound per square inch of pressure each month, so be sure to check monthly.
How does temperature affect tire pressure?
Tire pressure can drop one-half to one pound-per-square-inch (psi) for every 10-degree drop in temperature. Compensate by increasing tire pressure accordingly. For example, a tire with a recommended inflated pressure of 30 psi at 70 degrees Fahrenheit should be inflated to 34 psi when the temperature dips down to 30 degrees.
Can you tell if a tire is underinflated just by looking at it?
No. Today’s high-tech tires have to be “low” by at least 50 percent before you can tell if they are underinflated. Use a tire gauge to check your tire inflation at least once a month.
What happens if a tire is underinflated?
Underinflated tires can’t retain their proper shape or hug the road the way they are designed to. As a result, underinflation reduces a tire’s effectiveness by preventing it from operating within its design specifications. Underinflated tires:
- Reduce tread life by as much as 25 percent
- Impact gas mileage by as much as five percent
- Weaken tire structure resulting in blow-outs or other failures
- Reduce steering responsiveness and stability while cornering
- “Break traction” more easily, which can affect handling
- Affect weight distribution, steering, alignment and braking
- May cause your vehicle to “pull” one way or the other
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than a quarter of automobiles and about a third of light trucks on U.S. roadways have one or more tires that are underinflated by eight pounds per square inch (psi) or more below the level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Is it okay to drive with overinflated tires?
Serious racing drivers sometimes overinflate their tires because they reduce rolling resistance and can improve stability during cornering, but the average driver should not overinflate their vehicle’s tires. Overinflated tires:
- Are damaged more easily by potholes
- Lead to irregular tread wear
- Increase internal noise levels
- Can mean a rougher ride
- Decrease deflection and control because less tire surface is in contact with the road—especially in snowy or rainy weather
When should a tire be replaced?
Tires should be inspected every month to see if the tread is in good condition. There are two easy ways to evaluate the condition of tread:
- Insert a U.S. penny into a tire’s tread. If Abraham Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s time for new tires. Several spots should be tested about 15 inches apart because the tires often wear unevenly.
- Built in “wear bars” also indicate when tires should be changed. If the wear bar is flush with the outside of the tread, it’s time to replace the tire.