At the onset of each Winnipeg winter and spring, many drivers may notice a change in the air pressure of their tires. “Check tire pressure” lights flash for many due to the change in weather and the cooling or heating of air pressure. Other than the changing of months, many people ignore their tires, until they hear the flap of a flat.
Luckily, many cars are outfitted with an information valve that will report the air pressure in the tires directly to their instruction panel. Although this is a time saving device, air pressure should still be checked and appropriately filled or released with every gas fill-up.
Benefits of Maintaining Tire Pressure
1. Maintaining proper air pressure helps slow wear and tear and increases the life of your tires.
2. Having equal air pressure in your tires ensures fuel savings and increases gas mileage.
3. Cars with proper tire pressure are proven to have better handling and steering control.
4. Properly filled tires prevent car accidents caused by improper handling, tire blow-outs, and improper tire wear.
How to Maintain Tire Pressure
1. Find the recommended air pressure for each of your tires. This information can be found in your owner’s manual, or the informational label on the doorframe of your car.
2. Check the pressure of each tire with an accurate tire gauge.
3. If the pressure is too low, locate an air-filling station at the closest gas or service station. Add air pressure accordingly. Add air in 5 second spurts and check with the tire gauge to be sure not to overfill.
4. If the air pressure is too high, or you happen to overfill, gently press the valve stem and release the appropriate amount of air.
Caution
-Never overfill your tires. A drastic overfill will result in the tire exploding causing potentially deadly harm to yourself and damage to your automobile.
-Make sure all tires have the same air pressure. The only exception to this rule is if the front tires and back tires are recommended to have different values of air pressure.
If you have the misfortune of a flat tire, our Roadside Assistance team can help.