How to properly inflate your tires

Posted by M. Lucky (A) on April 26, 2006 at 17:18:33

In Reply to: Julia Child's recipe for chateaubriand posted by Paul_A on April 26, 2006 at 16:30:49:

The way to avoid tire problems is preventive tire maintenance; and the most important maintenance you can perform on your tires is keeping them properly inflated. Underinflation causes lost gas mileage, lost tire mileage, unsafe handling, and greater driving noise.

The recommended maximum inflation pressure is molded into the sidewalls of most tiresÃ¢â‚¬â€it may also be on a placard on your driver side door postÃ¢â‚¬â€generally about 35 to 36 psi (pounds per square inch). Any less than this pressure and your tire is performing inefficiently. It is safe to keep all your tires inflated to this indicated pressure, or even slightly above.

The easiest way to properly inflate your tires is to go to a service station that offers tire inflation and ask to be sure the air compressor is working. When you are sure it is, select the inflation pressure on the pump indicator. Remove the valve cap from your tire and press the tiny stem in the valve; release air for about three to five seconds. Now, press the pump's air chuck tightly against your tire valve and the pump will begin to inflate the tire.

Automatic air pumps usually sound a periodic bell as the tire is filling. When the tire is full the pump stops and the bell stops ringing. For accurate filling, the pump should operate long enough for the bell to ring at least three times before the pump stops. If it stops before six rings, let some more air out of the tire and inflate it again. Use this simple procedure to make sure all of your tires are inflated the same amount.

When you finish with your tires, check your spare. You should inflate it 10 or so psi MORE than the tires on the ground; that way your spare will always have enough pressure for safe use. The special tiny spares supplied on many modern cars require a special high pressure; check the requirement on the side of the tire or in your owner's manual. Write it down or mark it on the spare with yellow crayon.

Finally, put all the valve stem caps back on the tires and return the air pump hose to its hanger on the pump.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

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Bask in the twilight of your past glories while you can... - Paul_A 18:54:44 04/27/06 (0)

How to boil water for use with a teabag - Soundmind 15:16:20 04/27/06 (0)

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True, but the Robert Samels - Jake Sentgeorge thread was a masterpiece nt - chaprajilla 09:22:27 04/27/06 (0)

Julia Child's recipe for chateaubriand - Paul_A 16:30:49 04/26/06 (7)

here are some good fishing knots - tunenut 14:50:35 04/27/06 (0)

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How to Remove a Tick - Amphissa 20:08:23 04/26/06 (2)

Cover the critter in mayo - LWR 20:21:46 04/26/06 (1)

Re: Cover the critter in mayo - Amphissa 08:02:37 04/27/06 (0)

How to properly inflate your tires - M. Lucky 17:18:33 04/26/06 (1)

"put all the valve stem caps back" - Graham 08:21:22 04/27/06 (0)

Well that's kinda depressing... although I suppose not surprising. nt - clarkjohnsen 13:34:57 04/26/06 (0)

Follow Ups

How to properly inflate your tires - M. Lucky 17:18:33 04/26/06 (1)

"put all the valve stem caps back" - Graham 08:21:22 04/27/06 (0)

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