Tips to Check Tyre Pressure in Winters
Maintaining optimal tyre pressure is important to ensure grip on the road surface and also gives better mileage. It also ensures the safety of the rider and prevents untimely wear of the tyre. It also reduces CO2emission. The ideal pressure for a car tyre is 30-35 PSI (pounds of force per square inch); the recommended PSI for a car depends on the ideal tyre pressure year-round. The tyre pressure might also vary with temperature variation. The pressure is higher in Hot weather due to the faster movement of molecules inside the tyre, thus creating higher pressure. While, in cold weather, the pressure decreases, due to lesser movement of the molecules, resulting in lower pressure.
According to many tyre manufacturers, with every 10 degrees drop in the temperature, the care tyre losesbetween1 to 2 PSI. Another factor that affects the pressure in car tyres is whether the place is elevated or plain. The pressure tends to reduce even more when travelling to an elevated area. Hence it is important to be careful and regularly check the level of inflation in Dunlop Tyres Birmingham concerning these aspects. Over-inflating tyres can be equally as dangerous as leaving them with low pressure. Having too much air in tyres can also be problematic as it can distort the tyre’s shape, resulting in increased wear and tear at the centre.
HOW TO CHECK tyre PRESSURE IN WINTERS
One should always check the inflation in all four tyres from time to time or every two weeks to avoid any premature damage to the tyre and prevent any road accidents. Even when using studded tyres for roads covered with ice, it is equally important to maintain optimal inflation levels for maximum safety and best performance. While the tyres might look fine, a tyre can be under-inflated before it is visibly noticeable.
The tyres should be checked only when cold because driving raises the air temperature of the tyres, and the reading might be inaccurate. Thus, it is recommended to check the tyres in the morning or when the car has not been driven for a couple of hours. It is also important to know the ideal pressure recommended for the vehicle in context because the tyre pressure may vary depending upon the size and type of vehicle.
If the front and rear tyres are different, it is important to maintain the recommended pressure for both. A good quality Pressure Gauge can be used to take the reading of the tyre by inserting it into the air valve in a swift manner. The gauge should be pressed and held firmly until the hissing sound of the air is stopped. Even if a person doesn’t own a personal pressure gauge, one can always find it at a gas/fuel station. Once the reading is noted in PSI or Bar, the air valve cap should be placed immediately to avoid air leakage from the tyre. The pressure in the tyres should be adjusted according to the requirement; if it is higher than the recommended pressure, it can be decreased by letting some air out from the valve. But, if the reading is lower than the ideal pressure recommended for the vehicle, then an Air Compressor should be used to inflate them until the desired level is achieved.
A tyre Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) can also monitor the levels of air pressure in tyres. It is an electronic system installed in vehicles that alerts the driver when the air pressure falls extremely low, and the Car Tyres Birmingham require to be inflated or when the tyre is going flat. There are two types of TPMS – Direct and Indirect. It automatically checks the air pressure in tyres to avoid road accidents, improve performance, reduce braking distance, and prevent untimely wearing or tearing of the tyres. This equipment comes in handy as the temperature drops by indicating through an illuminating symbol on the dashboard that the pressure is low.
