It’s a fairly common experience to see your low tire pressure light turn on when the weather turns cold. Similarly, you may find your tires have increased pressure during the summer heat. In this article, Rick’s will explain why this happens, and what you need to do about it.
How Cold Weather Affects Your Tires
Minnesota winter temperatures can hit hard, affecting you, your home, and, yes, your car. When temperatures drop, the air molecules in your tires move slower and bunch together, decreasing the tire pressure. On average, with every 10℉ decrease, your tires will lose 1-2 PSI (pounds per square inch). There are definite risks to driving on underinflated tires. Your ability to brake lessens, fuel efficiency is decreased, and the tires themselves will wear out faster.
However, seeing the low tire pressure warning light does not necessarily mean you need to add more air. As tires sit still in the cold, the pressure will drop, but many times just driving on them — warming them up — is enough to get them back to the proper inflation levels. If the light does not turn off after driving, the air pressure actually is too low, and air should be added.
How Hot Weather Affects Your Tires
Heat affects your tires in the exact opposite way from cold. Air molecules become excited in heat, moving quickly and spreading out to push against the tire walls. A 10℉ increase in temperature leads to an increase of 1-2 PSI in your tires. Counterintuitively, if your tires are already underinflated, they will sit flatter against the hot road, which increases friction while you drive. The friction adds even more heat, weakening the structure of your tires, and could lead to a blowout.
Keep an eye on summer temperatures for the sake of your tires. While people are mostly affected by the general air temperature, tires also feel the heat from the asphalt, so they take on more heat than you may feel, especially with your AC running.
How to Take Care of Your Car Tire Pressure
Luckily for drivers everywhere, under- or overinflation is easily identified and can be fixed without too much effort. To start, air pressure should be checked regularly, at least once a month, so any errors are found before they cause problems. While most new cars have built-in pressure gauges, Rick’s 36 techs recommend checking with an external gauge as well, just in case. The best time to take a pressure reading is in the morning before driving, so the tires will be ‘cold’. The ideal PSI for your car’s tires will be listed in your owner’s manual and on a label on the driver’s side door. Use this number to compare your readings; don’t use the PSI listed on the tires themselves, as that is the maximum allowed pressure and will cause overinflation.
Tire Maintenance with Rick’s 36
Staying on top of pressure is just one part of tire maintenance and care. When you do your monthly pressure check, take the time to inspect the tires for damage — cracks, punctures, bulges — and tread depth so repairs or replacements can be done before the problems become dangerous. Regular maintenance services like balancing, tire rotations, and wheel alignments even out the wear on your tires to extend their lives. The average tire life span is around six years, so keep that in mind as you do your checks.
Rick’s 36 Automotive Service is proud to offer tire maintenance services and tire inspections to the Stillwater, MN area. When the time comes, we also sell tires and can help you find the right ones for your vehicle, install included. Book an appointment online or by phone, or stop by the shop to get your tires the care they need.
