What is the number 1 thing you can do to improve your vehicle safety and performance? Check your tire pressure. Continue reading below the video for an in-depth "why".
Inside the door jamb of your driver's side door, there will be a sticker that tells you the manufacturer's specification for tire size and tire pressures based on that size for front, rear, and if applicable, spare.
If you choose to fill up your air at a gas station, having your own tire pressure gauge can prove useful as the ones at the station are rarely calibrated. You can pick up a tire pressure gauge at the gas station or any auto parts store for less than $3.
Click on the video below to learn how to check your tire pressure:
So why does your tire pressure matter so much? There are three main reasons:
Handling. If your tire is underinflated, it will handle poorly. You'll notice if your front tires are underinflated because they will grip things that you shouldn't necessarily feel in the road - like when you run over the letters "STOP" painted on the ground and you feel your steering wheel kinda tug. If your tires are overinflated then you will be bouncing along down the road and you will have less overall grip.
Tire Wear. If your tires are underinflated it can cause many different types of premature wear on your tires. Mostly the outside edges will take a beating. If your tires are overinflated, the center of the tire will wear prematurely. We all know that tires are not cheap.
Gas Mileage. If your tires are underinflated it actually takes more energy for your car to get them to turn going down the road. This directly affects your gas mileage and therefore your wallet. If your tires are overinflated, the extra bouncing and correcting you end up doing because the handling is so poor also affects gas mileage.
Save yourself some money and check your tire pressure. Do it every month on the first of the month, or do it when you pay your rent or mortgage - it's an easy way to remember to put some money back in your pocket!