Everyone understands the basics of car care - from changing your oil to rotating your tires. However, when was the last time you checked the air pressure in your spare tire, or any of your tires for that matter? Braxton Automotive wants to remind you to be car care aware and air your spare!
Most drivers depend on their spare in a pinch, but what happens when it does not perform at the very moment you need it most, simply because you did not check the air pressure? Not only will this simple task rescue you in your time of need, but it also saves you gas, and who couldn't use help in that department?
Tires normally lose one psi each month due to air permeation thru the sidewall. It helps to think of a tire as a balloon - after time the air in a balloon will drop due to air leaking through the balloon's surface. Air will dissipate through the tire's sidewall in the same way. It is also important to note that with the change in seasons there is often a change in temperature - for every 10 degree (F) drop in ambient temperature a tire will lose one psi. And it's the air that carries the load, so less air pressure means less load carrying capacity.
How do you check your tire pressure? Typically you can find the correct inflation pressure for your vehicle's original tires on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb, in the glove compartment or in the vehicle owner's manual. Be certain to check the tire pressure with a good tire gauge when the tire is cold. Or you can always bring it to Braxton Automotive and we will check it for you. Don't forget, we check and set your tire pressure during your routine oil change.
Don't take your tires, or your spare tire for granted. Check tire inflation often for security, fuel economy and for peace of mind. The savings may be every bit as critical as those you reap when replacing the battery in your smoke detector.