If you’ve ever been driving and felt the wobble of a low tire, you know the main reason you want to check your tires regularly. It’s no fun to get stuck on the side of the road with a flat. However, even if the tire doesn’t deflate to the point of leaving you stuck, there are still other reasons to keep tires fully inflated. Here are 3:
- You get your best gas mileage with properly inflated tires
- Driving on a low tire creates faster wear
- Driving on a low tire can lead to catastrophic damage to the side walls and tire failure
How to Check Your Tire Pressure
You can do a visual inspection of your tires before driving and get a good idea if any are low. But the only way to know if they are fully inflated is to use a tire pressure gauge. They are available at most automotive and convenience stores. You simply remove the tire stem cap and insert the gauge. The pressure reading should match the specified tire pressure in your owner’s manual. If it does not, you can add air at most gas stations.
Modern cars may be equipped with TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system). In this case, a dashboard light with an exclamation point inside a circle will indicate that one or more tires need air. Pull off as soon as you safely can to inflate the tires.
When a Tire Leaves You Stuck on the Road
If despite your best efforts, you still end up stuck, roadside assistance can be of great benefit. All you have to do is sit tight and wait for the service to arrive and take care of you. Vehicle Service Center offers roadside assistance package that you can combine with our extended warranty coverage. To learn more and get a free quote, call 1-800-280-6708.
