8001 Minnetonka Blvd.

952.931.9696

Mon-Thu: 7am -6pm
Friday: 7am – 5pm

6407 West Lake Street

952.922.9696

Mon-Thu: 7am -6pm
Friday: 7am – 5pm

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How to Take Care of Your Tires

by | Aug 6, 2013 | Auto Repair, General Car Maintenance, Tire Repair

Your tires are one of the most important parts on your car, as it is the only thing between you and the highway and allows for your car to move. Putting air in your tire is a quick and simple process and is something you can do yourself. It is important to use the manufacturer’s recommended amount of air in all four of your vehicle’s tires for even tire wear, good ride quality, efficient fuel mileage, and prolonged tire life.

TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE 

Tire pressure gauges are comprised of a matching valve to a tire valve which allows the tire’s inner air to be forced through a measuring device that tracks and records the total amount of air pressure inside of the tire. You can find digital measuring tools which relay the pressure via a digital reading rather than a dial as you see on most tire gauges. Tire gauges are used to measure the amount of air pressure that is in your tire. The air pressure is measured in PSI or pounds per square inch. All vehicles have their own recommended psi amount, which can be found in the owner’s manual. If you are not able to access this then you a good rule of thumb to go by is 30-32 psi.

KNOWING WHEN YOUR TIRE NEEDS AIR

Keeping your tires at their recommended pressure will help to increase their life span. But how do you know when your tire needs air? By using your tire pressure gauge, press the gauge hard against the valve and note the reading on the dial. Repeat this step on all four of the tires, carefully reading and filling the tire properly. Tire pressures rise in the hot weather and fall in the cold as the air expands and contacts, because of this your tire pressure will vary with the seasons, which is why it is recommended that your tire pressure be checked at least once a month. If you unable to find the correct psi range for your tires then you can sometimes find it on the inside panel of the driver’s side door or you can always ask a mechanic for the correct amount.

AIRING UP YOUR TIRE 

If you have a deflated tire you can take it to a full-service auto mechanic, but you can get the job done just as easily. Begin by using the tire gauge reader to measure the psi. From there add the needed amount of air to get the gauge to read within the proper range. If you accidently overfill your tires with air then just deflate them by pressing down on the small needle in the center of the valve to let air out. Most tire pressure gauges have a small knob for this purpose, but your fingertip or a pen can do the trick too. Having too much air in your tires can pose a problem as well. It can cause uneven tire wear, unbalanced ride and you can also blow or pop your tire while driving or airing it up. Your tires should not look squishy, but be firm. It is recommended to invest in a good tire gage and keep it in the glove compartment of your vehicle. Although adding air to your tires is simple, it is an important task that keeps you safe on the roads.