What are the things you think about most when it comes to vehicle maintenance? Oil changes, obviously, are a big one that should come to mind right away. Making sure your brakes are in good working order is another big point, as is the amount of tread you have left on your tires. Along with those keys, there is another one which is often overlooked - tire pressure. Maintaining proper tire pressure is an important piece of the maintenance puzzle, even though it is ignored by many drivers.
In this blog post, we are going to take a look at what it is that makes tire pressure so important. If you are concerned that your tire pressure is low at the moment, or if you have any other vehicle maintenance needs to handle, please contact Taylor & Sons Chevrolet right away. We'll be happy to help!
It Goes Both Ways
One of the first things we need to point out when talking about tire pressure is the fact that both under inflation and over inflation can be a problem. You may think first about under inflation, since that is likely the more common issue, but over inflation can have a negative effect on the tire, as well. Let's take a quick look at some issues you may encounter on both sides of this equation.
• Under inflation. When there is not enough air in your tires, there are a couple of problems which can result. First, since more of the tire is going to be touching the ground as it rolls along, the side - or shoulder - of the tire is likely to wear down prematurely. Additionally, you are going to be encountering more resistance as you move down the road, which is likely to harm your overall fuel economy numbers.
• Over inflation. As you might expect, the issues here are largely the opposite from the points above. Specifically, less of the tire is going to be touching the road as you drive, leading the middle of the tire to wear down faster than it would otherwise. Also, the tire is going to feel stiff as you drive, and you'll likely feel that effect in the cabin when you hit uneven spots on the road.
The way to avoid these negative consequences is obvious - maintain your tires as close as possible to the recommended inflation level for your vehicle. Staying in the right range with regard to tire pressure will help you get good performance from your vehicle out on the roads, and it will also help you extend the useful life of your tires.
A Matter of Time
When you put a new set of tires on your vehicle, you know one thing for sure - those tires are going to wear out at some point. While tires obviously last longer than a tank of gasoline, they should be thought of in much the same way. They are a consumable that is necessary to operate your vehicle on a day to day basis.
So, the idea when it comes to tire inflation is to get the most possible return on your investment in a set of tires. If you buy a good set of tires to help your car or truck grip the roads of Northern Idaho, you want to make sure those tires don't wear out prematurely. The best way to reach that goal is to keep the ideal amount of air in the tires. This task might seem like a bit of a hassle, but it is worth your effort when you consider how much you can save by delaying the need to buy a new set.
A Safety Issue
Most drivers are going to be primarily concerned with extending the life of their tires when they pay attention to tire pressure. With that said, there is also a safety component to consider on this point. One of the most dangerous tire-related issues you can encounter is a blowout, and such an event may be caused by having too little tire pressure in place. Although it might seem like too much tire pressure would be the cause of a blowout - and technically, it could be - it's usually low tire pressure that winds up leading to this kind of event.
As you can see, there are plenty of motivations for keeping your tires at an appropriate pressure. For starters, you'll be able to optimize things like fuel economy and the wear pattern on your tires as the miles add up. You should also be able to stay away from purchasing a new set of tires for longer when you pay attention to tire pressure, and you may be able to decrease the odds of a blowout as well. Considering how simple it is to monitor tire pressure, pay attention to this simple maintenance point is a no-brainer.
Getting Help
Fortunately, you don't have to take on this maintenance issue all on your own. When you work with the team at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, you will have a helpful partner to keep your tires on a path toward a long and useful life. And, of course, we will also be able to help you with any other maintenance issues that may need to be handled on your vehicle. It's always a good idea to have a trustworthy auto shop on your side, and that is exactly what you'll find when you visit Taylor & Sons.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog, and we hope you now have a clear understanding of why tire pressure is worth your attention. If you are willing to add tire pressure to the checklist of things that you track with regard to the health of your vehicle, it's more likely that you'll stay on track for long-term reliable performance. At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we love caring for the vehicles driven by those living in and around Ponderay. Please feel free to contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you may have. Thanks again for stopping by!