Notice: Do not let anyone tell you
that under-inflation or over-inflation is all right. It is not. If your
tires do not have enough air (under-inflation), you can get the following:
• | Premature or irregular wear |
If your tires have too much air (over-inflation),
you can get the following:
• | Needless damage from road hazards |
A Tire and Loading Information Label located on the driver's door opening sill
below the door striker (coupe) or rear edge of the driver's door (sedan and wagon),
shows the correct inflation pressure for your tires when they're cold. "Cold"
means your car has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no more than 1 mile
(1.6 km). If you have to check tires when they're not cold, add 4 psi
(28 kPa) to the number on the sticker.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Don't forget to check the compact spare
tire. it should be at 60 psi (420 kPa). Remember to check tire pressure
when the tires are cold.
How to Check
Use a good quality gage to check tire pressure. You can't tell if your tires
are properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly inflated
even when they're underinflated.
Never release air from a hot tire in order to reach the recommended cold tire
pressure. Normal driving causes tires to run hotter and air pressure to increase.
If you release air when your tires are hot, you may dangerously underinflate your
tires.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.