If you feel your vehicle or your steering wheel is shaking while driving and it doesn’t give the pleasant driving experience as usual, these may be symptoms of tires that are underinflated.

A spare tire might be a good idea when the original wheel is damaged. It may prevent braking from being done precisely, and your back end can slide out with one sharp corner.īesides, when you drive your car with over-inflated tires, their life will decrease rapidly as the rubber rounds out at the top while the tire wear is much faster in the center. Tires with maximum pressure can give a strong cornering performance, but they can also put you into potentially dangerous driving conditions facing problems with handling. What Happens When My Tires Are Overinflated Or Underinflated? When You Drive With Overinflated Ones For example, you can notice small leaks earlier and need a quick repair instead of having a flat tire. On the contrary, if the PSI reading is below the ideal level, it is an underinflated tire and needs filling with some more air to reach the recommendation.īy checking regularly, you will take control of how your tires are performing and be aware of any issues before they turn into serious problems. Let out some air by pushing in the valve until the PSI rating is the same or nearly as same as the proper level. If the PSI reading exceeds the recommendation, it is an overinflated tire. Both traditional stick-type or digital tire gauges can work well, and you can do it at home or the service center.Īfter having a good gadget, follow this 2-step instruction: remove the valve cap, insert the traditional or digital gauge into the valve stem, press down quickly and hold the tire gauge’s tip firmly for accurate tire pressure reading.Ĭompare the specifications you’ve just read to the proper level for your vehicle. It would help if you had an accurate tire pressure gauge to check the air pressure, which is quite easy. The heat can increase the air pressure by several PSIs, so if you want an accurate reading of the PSI rating, you had better let the car rest overnight. Note that this specification indicates the cold pressure, which means the PSI rating should be measured when there is no more add-on heat generated due to external influences, such as friction when you drive your car or the heat when you park your vehicle in the sun for several hours.

In contrast, the maximum pressure allowed can be found on the sidewall, according to Consumer Reports. The recommended PSI rating is commonly found on a sticker inside the driver’s door or in the operator manual. Maintaining the recommended pressure is important as it saves gas mileage, lengthens tire life, and keeps you safe. PSI rating shows how much air to fill in your tires. To be more specific, the optimum rate is 30 or 32 PSI. However, in general, the recommendation is between 28 – 36 PSI (pounds per square inch). The specifications vary, depending on tire manufacturers. The ideal pressure is the optimal rate set by the vehicle manufacturer to ensure the tire performance is smooth and durable.

What Happens When My Tires Are Overinflated Or Underinflated?.

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