Should i inflate my tires to maximum psi

Underinflated tires greatly increase braking distances and can dramatically affect steering and handling. That friction can lead to overheating, which can cause tread separation and blowouts in extreme cases.

Premature wear , reducing your tire life by 15 per cent or more. Under inflation wears your tires on both outside shoulders because the edges are making excessive contact with the road. Poor gas mileage. Vehicles with underinflated tires see reduced fuel economy because they make your engine work harder: underinflated tires put more tire surface in contact with the road, causing more rolling resistance and friction with the road.

The result is poor gas mileage and higher fuel costs — up to 1. Depending on how often you fill up, that can lead to hundreds of dollars over the space of a single year. How do summer and winter temperatures impact tire pressure? Winter When the temperature drops, air contracts and as the molecules get closer together, the reduction in volume causes tires to lose their pressure. Summer Just as cold outside air causes the air inside your tires to contract in winter, warm outside air causes the air inside your tires to expand in summer.

Was this article helpful? Find a Store. Related reads. Featured article Which spare tire is right for you? Featured article 7-Step guide: how to change a flat tire. Featured article How to check tire pressure: A 5-step guide. The size of the contact patch, given the force or the weight of the tire, is the same, directly affects the average pressure the tire's putting down on the road. The larger the contact patch by deflating the tires , the less pressure it puts on that same area.

So there's a causal relationship between your tire pressure and the possibility of a hydroplaning event. Here's a more visual explanation of what is happening between a properly-inflated tire and an underinflated tire when driving on a wet road. Also, check your tires' treads, which make the water flow around the tires more efficiently, and of course, driving slow is always a big plus. The contact patch directly decides the pattern of the tire's wear and tear.

You don't want your tires to wear out prematurely just because you have an over or under-inflated tire. Imagine you are a ball rolling on the ice, there's no friction between the two surfaces, how much extra force do you need to apply to keep the ball moving? Zero Thanks, Newton. The same applies to your fuel consumption when it comes to driving on the road.

The rolling resistance between your tires and the road significantly affects fuel economy, and by now we should all know the logic behind this, lower tire pressure leads to a larger contact patch, which causes higher rolling resistance, and thus, poor fuel economy.

There are of course circumstances where you want to manipulate your tire pressure to meet specific requirements. Like the aforementioned track race, or if you are driving on sand, mud, etc. However, as a daily commuter, we strongly suggest you regularly check your tire pressure, preferably once a week and anytime you might take a long road trip, and always keep the tires properly inflated!

Tire pressure is always a hot topic regarding driving safety, and it's important to keep an eye on the tire pressure to maximize fuel efficiency and safety. Claim your free unit here. Appendix 1 - Ideal gas law - Wikipedia. Appendix 2 - Aquaplaning - Wikipedia. Nice blog about things you need to know about tire pressure. Your blog is very helpful for more people. Thanks for sharing the information. I gained massively from your content. I have always maintained my tire pressure at 33psi with no reason why.

Thanks for the article. Auto Saving Center. Mileage Log Subscription. Total Saving. It is necessary to put in mind your tire pressure if you do not want to be a victim. If you have uneven tire pressure, this may mean your tire is over or underinflated. It may also mean all the tires of your vehicle do not have equal pressure levels. You might Want to also read this post here. There are some symptoms you might notice if your tire is underinflated.

If you notice the performance is decreasing, or it is wearing out sideways, this shows that you are experiencing an underinflated tire.

In this case, whenever you pull the brake, the tire does not respond properly. A tire that is overinflated is also not advisable. Overinflating your tires can happen when you are not careful enough. When you notice that riding becomes noisy or harsh, or your tire starts wearing at the centre, this may be a symptom of an overinflated tire.

When a tire is overinflated, it gets shaped like an oval. The sides of the tire will curve with only the centre touching the road. After a while, it starts wearing and becomes damaged.

The tire pressure of your vehicle must have equal pressure. This post will enlighten you on the recommended pressure of 51 psi max. It is not advisable to inflate the tires of your car to their maximum psi.

The maximum pressure of the tire is usually stated on its sidewall. You will have to inflate them to the pressure that is specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Take observations of any variances for size, speed, and weight load in the vehicle. There are some cars that would require high pressure for high speed. Another thing to consider is the type of engine the vehicle is using as a car with a heavy engine usually requires higher tire pressure.