The car is loaded, the snacks are packed, you’ve buckled up and are ready to hit the road! Is there anything you forgot to do? The front door is locked, your curling iron is unplugged, you’ve gotten an oil change, but have you checked the inflation pressure in your tires? Most drivers don’t think about checking their tires until it is too late. It seems like a much harder task than reality, yet people still put it off until it is too late. According to the DMV, “under-inflating wears out the sides of the tire, and is actually a driving hazard. Over-inflated tires will wear more quickly, and are also dangerous because of the increased possibility of a blowout.” So before you hit the road, check the tire pressure. Need a review? Good Works Auto Repair breaks down the process in an informational video geared towards teens and adults alike.

Checking tire pressure can seem like a daunting task to average drivers like me. Before I hit the road, I needed to make sure that my tire pressure was in range. Maintaining sufficient air pressure is required if your tires are to provide all of the handling, traction and durability of which they are capable. Particularly important is the idea that proper tire inflation pressure can optimize fuel economy. When you are about to hit the road and drive for miles, you could actually save money on gas.

Temperature can also play a role in tire inflation. Since air is a gas, it expands when heated and contracts when cooled. The rule of thumb is for every 10°F change in air temperature, your tire’s inflation pressure will change by about 1 psi (up with higher temperatures and down with lower). This means that it should be checked in the morning before you drive more than a few miles, or before rising ambient temperatures or the sun’s radiant heat affects it. When you check your tire pressure is just as important as how in many cases. At any rate, a 5 psi loss is enough to sacrifice handling, traction, and durability, according to experts.

So you may be wondering how to check your tire pressure at this point. Well, Good Works Auto Repair’s video  explains the process in simple terms and the visual examples gave me the confidence to properly check my own tires. You will need a tire gauge. Look in the owners’ manual or on the inside of the driver’s side door for the standard tire inflation pressure number. Unscrew the valve stem cap. Press the air pressure gauge onto the valve stem and note the reading given. If you hear a hissing sound, the gauge is not on tight enough for an accurate reading. Remove the gauge and try again. If the reading is lower than the owners’ manual’s specification, ask an adult to help you air up the tire. Replace the valve stem cap. It’s that easy.

Not only can proper tire pressure optimize fuel economy, but it adds to your safety on the road. Nothing can ruin a road trip more than a blowout, breakdown or accident. It is commonly agreed that a main cause of early tire breakdown and poor tread life is under-inflation. Low tire pressure not only causes excessive heat build-up in the tire, creating dangerous driving conditions, but also shortens tire life. Unwanted heat rapidly increases tread-wear and can destroy tire casings. As much as 90% of all tire breakdowns is the direct result of tire under-inflation. Furthermore, one expert states that “under-inflation of tires is a serious safety concern because it forces excessive flexing on the sidewalls. This additional strain on the tire can build up more internal heat, resulting in the aforementioned hazards and premature tire failure. Research completed by the U.S. National Traffic and Safety Administration shows that one in three cars or light trucks are being driven with at least one significantly under-inflated tire. These improperly inflated tires wear out more quickly because they put more drag on the road.” For tire services, be sure to have Good Works Auto Repair prepare your vehicle.