Winter Tire Pressure

Everything You Need to Know About Tire Pressure

This time of the year always brings me holiday cheer, crisp winter air, and annoying dashboard warnings of low tire pressure. A few years ago, the warnings had me refilling my tires every few days, only to have the warnings reappear a week later. I finally took my car for a “check-up” and was shocked to hear there were no holes or slow leaks! I learned that changing air temperature also changes the tire pressure, and there’s something called PSI that’s important.

PSI stands for pounds per square inch, and it is recommended tires maintain a PSI of 30-35. If you’d prefer specifics instead of estimates, check your vehicle’s manual or the sticker located on the inside of the door. Tire manufacturers also imprint the recommended PSI directly on the tires, so that’s helpful!

A 10-degree difference in outside temperature can adversely affect the performance of tires, so it makes sense to check their pressure when there is a significant shift in weather. Cold air contracts in the tires, lowering pressure, and that’s when those pesky dashboard alerts pop up. To get a precise PSI read, check pressure first thing in the morning because, as you’ve likely guessed, driving causes the air in the tires to heat up and expand, which also affects the accuracy.

A good winter rule of thumb is the colder or more varied the temperature, the more often you should check tire pressure. Driving on under inflated tires not only means poorer gas mileage and decreased overall performance, but also increases the risk of a blowout and accident. If you don’t have a hand-held pressure reader, head to your local gas station where reads and refills are usually free. Just remember your gloves because brrr it’s cold outside!