Ever wake up on a cold morning to find the low tire pressure light in your car blinking at you? It may seem odd, but weather, especially the temperature, can greatly affect the air pressure in your tires, leading to potentially unsafe driving conditions. Wilson Tire & Auto, your Nashville tire shop, can walk you through why this happens, and how to handle it.
Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is the amount of air inside your tires, and the force with which it presses against the outside walls. It is measured in PSI, or pounds per square inch, and the ideal tire pressure varies depending on your car and tire. You can find your ideal pressure either in your car’s owner manual or on the driver’s side door jamb. Once you have that number, you should be checking monthly that your tires are filled correctly.
Tire Pressure in High Temperatures
When temperatures increase for our high humidity Nashville summers, tire air pressure increases. Air molecules spread out and move faster at higher temperatures, increasing pressure in any closed container. While a small increase is not a problem, drastic weather changes can increase the pressure severely as well. Every 10-degree rise in temperature gains about 1-2 PSI in your tires. Overinflated tires will wear down unevenly (more wear in the middle than on the edges), ride harder, reduce traction, and increase the risk of a blowout.
If you experience a sudden heatwave, we recommend checking your tire pressure. Do so while the tires are still ‘cold’, when they have been parked for a few hours, as driving will add even more heat — and therefore more pressure — to the reading. If you are overinflated, you only need to release some air. Do this incrementally, taking readings after every release to ensure you don’t vent too much. You don’t want to overcompensate by underinflating. Just get your tires back to the ideal pressure.
Tire Pressure in Low Temperatures
As one might expect, in cold temperatures the exact opposite happens to your tires. Air molecules move slowly in the cold, clumping closer together, causing the pressure to drop. With every 10-degree drop in temperature, there will be a loss of 1-2 PSI. However, when you first see the low pressure light come on when you get in your car, you don’t immediately have to run for the air pump. Your tires are ‘cold’ on top of the general weather since they haven’t been driving, so taking them out and letting the movement and friction of the road warm them up may be enough to turn that light off.
If the light does not go out on its own, then is the time to add air to your tires, as they are truly underinflated. Underinflated tires have poorer braking ability, decrease fuel efficiency, and will wear out faster, so it’s important to fill them sooner rather than later. As before, don’t overinflate your tires to prepare for the cold’s effects. Just fill them correctly, and be prepared to check your pressure more frequently in cold stints, perhaps weekly.
Tire Air Pressure at Wilson
Have questions about your tire pressure? Or want someone to check your tire’s conditions so you’re set for the rest of winter? Wilson Tire & Auto are here to help. Just stop by our convenient Nashville auto shop, book an appointment, or give us a call.
