What if tire pressure is too high

A tire bulges in the center of the tread when you overinflate it. The only part of the tire touching the road is a small, skinny patch down the middle.

In theory, "this should mean less rolling resistance and increased mileage," notes Popular Mechanics. But in reality? It means center tread wear, an uncomfortable ride, and increased risk for a blowout.

Note that a few PSI over your recommended tire pressure generally won't put you in the danger zone. After all, tire pressure fluctuates with the outside temperature. Don't worry—fixing this air pressure problem is a breeze. To get the most accurate tire pressure reading and inflation, follow these steps when your tires are "cold," either in the morning or after the car has been sitting for a few hours.

Topping off warm tires may result in over-inflation. Likewise, checking the inflation pressure when the tires are warm may incorrectly suggest the tires are already over-inflated.

Many vehicles have tire-pressure monitoring systems , which will alert you with a TPMS dashboard light when significant underinflation occurs. So if you last had your tire pressure checked in July, when it was 80 degrees outside, and it's now January — and the temperature is minus 20 — your tires may be underinflated by 10 pounds, which is dangerous. If the specs aren't on any door post, check inside the glove compartment pictured , under the center console cover or in the owner's manual.

A lot of people check the pressure listed on the tires themselves, but that's actually the wrong place to look. The number on the tire is the maximum allowable air pressure — not the recommended pressure for that tire when used on your vehicle. The recommended tire pressure is almost always lower than the maximum tire pressure. Check your owner's manual to find out where to look on your vehicle to find the recommended measurement.

This number usually is indicated either on the driver's door pillar, the glove compartment door or sometimes on the gas filler door. We recommend a high-quality digital or dial-type tire-pressure gauge like this one. Once you know the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, then you need an accurate tire gauge to check the tire pressure.

Some tire gauges, such as the popular pencil-style gauge, are notoriously inaccurate. Analog, dial-type gauges or digital gauges tend to be fairly accurate. And when should you check the tire pressure? You should check it when the tire is cold. That doesn't mean you need to move to International Falls, Minn. Think of it this way: every time it goes up or down 10 degrees, your tire pressure changes in kind by about psi.

For example, if you filled your tire to about 32 psi in 70 degree weather, if it drops to 40 at night your tires go down to about 28 psi. That may in fact be too low for your car see manual. Modern tire pressure monitors actually give you a warning light if your tire pressure dips 10 percent.

When your tires are deflated, more rubber hits the road. And when that happens the tires get hot. The heat plus lack of pressure puts you in serious danger of a tire blow out. And that is a common misconception. I have always maintained my tire pressure at 33psi with no reason why. Thanks for the article. Auto Saving Center. Mileage Log Subscription. Total Saving. Shipping Calculated at next step. Step 2: Check the tire pressure with the gauge Unscrew the valve cap and press the tire gauge onto the valve stem hard enough until the hissing sound disappears.

Step 4: Fill your tires to the recommended psi If you find a tire underinflated, use the air compressor to fill your tires. Step 5: Check the tire pressure again After filling the tires, use your tire pressure gauge to check the tire pressure again and make sure they are in a good range.

Good reading. Really appreciate it. Stay tuned for more. Best Team nonda. Well done! Leave a comment Name. Spread the Love. Find us on social media. Connected Car Device. Car Expenses Saving Services. About Us.