How to Keep Your Tires Optimized to Save Gas and Money

To maintain the proper air pressure in your tires takes very little effort. By doing that simple chore, you can save 4% on your annual gas costs. It is estimated that a 4% savings equates to between $100 and $200 per year. Just follow the advice listed here and start saving.

Correct tire pressure varies from vehicle to vehicle and wheel to wheel. In fact, the recommended pressure for personal vehicles ranges from 20 to over 50 psi.

The proper tire inflation amount is usually found on a tire information sticker mounted somewhere on your car. This informational sticker is found in standard places on your car. The informational sticker can be found on the inside of the trunk, gas tank door or glove compartment. Sometimes it can be located on a car visor or on a post inside a car door or on the side of the door itself. The owner's manual will also list the tire pressure information or possibly indicate where the informational sticker is located.

The pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the maximum tire pressure - or the tire pressure that is required to carry the maximum load of the tire. It is not the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, which is a common misconception.

When you find the information listing the correct tire pressure, you need to physically measure air pressure in all four tires to guarantee they are inflated properly. There are a few steps involved in doing this correctly.

How to measure and correct tire pressure:

Step 1:

First and foremost you need a tire pressure gauge. This may seem obvious but many people think they can tell if a tire is low by sight. I would not recommend that. You don't need an expensive gauge. One with a dial is easier to use than the kind with the pop up.

Step 2:

Find the recommended inflation pressure for your tires on the vehicle information placard. Check the owner's manual for its exact location. A sight inspection is not an appropriate way to measure the air pressure in your tires.

Step 3:

A tire that is hot, or has just been driven on will have a higher air pressure than that same tire when it is cold. A cold tire is one that has not been driven for at least 3 hours or has been driven 1 mile or less. Air pressure should only be measured when tires are cold. If you measure warm tires your results will be faulty.

Step 4:

Remove the top or cap from the valve on the tire and insert the gauge onto the valve. Make sure you press the gauge snugly on the valve. You should not hear air coming from the tire if you have the pressure gauge properly affixed onto the valve. If you hear air escaping pull the gauge off of the valve and reseat it. Once it is seated properly you can note the reading on the gauge.

Step 5:

Add air to achieve recommended air pressure. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve, then re-measure the pressure.

Step 6:

Repeat this same step by step procedure for the other tires. It only takes one low tire to rob you of fuel economy, so you need to measure all the tires.

It is recommended that you check your tire pressure at least once per month. Air can and will leach from a tire over time. Heat and use will affect the rate at which a tire loses air. Checking once a month will assure that you are maintaining the correct pressure all year round.

Check your tires. Follow the steps above. There is no easier way to put $100 to $200 dollars of gas costs back into your pocket.