Tire Pressure Explained Nicely

A BRIEF INTRO

Tire pressure is just a measurement of the amount of air in your tire, as certain vehicles or tires need a specific pressure to operate correctly.

HOW IS IT MEASURED?

"psi," which is "Pounds per Square Inch". This means that if a tire is inflated to 33 psi, there are 33 pounds of air pressure in each square inch of the tire's inner wall.

THE HORSESHOE LIGHT

The horseshoe with an explanation point in the middle light on your dashboard, is your TPMS light. TPMS stands for "Tire Pressure Monitoring System", which keeps track of each tire's pressure and activates the light when it falls below or rises above a certain pressure, typically 3 pounds above or below. It can also activate if one or more sensors have stopped working. If all your tires read at the recommended pressure and the light stays on, this is likely the culprit.

DOES IT REALLY AFFECT GAS MILEAGE?

Yes.

This is obviously exaggerated, but imagine your car trying to rotate something that isn't round. The recommended tire pressure keeps the tire inflated to give the best traction and efficiency. Even a few pounds low can cause the tire to become a burden for the engine; keep in mind, tires can be 15 pounds low, with it difficult to notice in some tires. Keep an eye out and always periodically check your tire pressure.

WHY DO OFF-ROADERS RUN LOW PSI

Well, back to that graphic, imagine how each tire goes over rocks and jagged terrain and that's why. Off-roaders typically run a lower psi so the tire takes some of the terrain before the suspension does.