Tire Pressure Safety

Maintaining tire pressure is one part of a personal automobile or fleet maintenance program. Inadequate tire pressure can have adverse effects on a vehicles safety & performance, including:

• Lower fuel economy
• Increases stopping distance
• Accelerates tire wear
• Increased risk of a blow out
• Increased chance of hydroplaning in wet conditions
• Decreased vehicle handling

Tires lose pressure in various ways, including natural leakage and tire damage (faulty valve, nails, or other road hazards). The outside temperature will also affect vehicle tire pressure. For every ten degrees, plus or minus, the pressure in your tires can increase or decrease by one psi (pounds per square inch).¹ 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that drivers check their tires monthly.¹ Newer model cars have tire pressure monitoring systems to remind drivers when the pressure is low. To find the recommended tire inflation pressure, look in the vehicle's manual or tire placard located on the driver's side doorjamb (do not rely on the tire markings listed pressure). Use a tire gauge to check all tires, including the spare, and fill to the recommended pressure.

References

1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/tires#topic-being-tirewise