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How Your Tire Pressure Changes Seasonally

How Your Tire Pressure Changes Seasonally

kbtire • Oct 22, 2019

What seems as a minimal component of your car’s functions, tire pressure is actually quite crucial to road safety as well as the efficiency of your car. A consistently well-pressurized tire will reduce the risk of a popped tire, ensure a smoother ride as well as increase the life-span of your tires. Luckily, regulating your tire pressure is easy to do and an important skill to know as a car owner. However, this isn’t a one and done deal. Tire pressure is affected by the weather and changing temperatures throughout the seasons. Before we dive in, let’s discuss some simple tire pressure FAQ. 

Tire Pressure FAQ 

  • How Do I Know What My Correct Tire Pressure Is? 
    • Any new car will always have a sticker labeled with the correct tire pressure for your individual car. This is usually located on the driver’s side, on the door and behind the side. More modern cars will have digital reminders to alert you when it your tire pressure is too high or low. If you are not able to find the correct number, give us a call and we will be happy to help!
  • Does Tire Pressure Affect My Car’s Fuel Economy? 
    • Yes. If your tires are not filled all the way, this will directly impact your car’s fuel economy. Driving on under-inflated tires costs about 0.2 percent in efficiency for each one pound of pressure they are under the recommendation. In other words, keeping your tires properly inflated saves money in the low run. 
  • How Often Should I Check My Tire Pressure?
    • You should check your tire pressure once every month to ensure you are in good shape. You don’t want to be caught off guard with low pressure and end up with a popped tire that requires expensive road assistance. 

What Happens To Tire Pressure In The Winter? 

If your car has a digital system to alert you when tire pressure is low, you may have gotten this notice as soon as the temperature began to drop. While really warm weather can increase and inflate the pressure within your tires, cold weather has the opposite effect. Cold weather can lower your tire pressure drastically, causing them to be under-inflated. This is not an occurrence caused by the driver, it is simply a natural response to the air outside your tire experiencing a significant drop in temperature. This is simple science, also known as Boyle’s Law. Put simply, when things are hot, they expand, when they are cold, they shrink. When the weather chills, the air inside your tire is contracting and thus lowering your tire pressure. The opposite happens when it is warm outside. The air in your tire expands, taking up more space and thus raising the air pressure. 

How KB Tire Can Provide Tire Pressure Assistance In The Winter

Our team of qualified and professionally trained auto repair specialists have all the answers to your tire related concerns. The solutions we provide are not only reliable but will also help you learn more about your vehicle so you can feel more confident as a car owner. If you don’t catch your tire pressure quick enough and happen to have a burst tire, we are here to help. Our services are fast, trustworthy and will have you back on the road in no time!

For more information on our tire services , call us today!

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