Why You Should Get Your Tire Pressure Checked This Winter

Like other gases, air expands when heated and contracts when cooled – meaning that the changing seasons demand a tire pressure check. Although it may not be first on your to-do list, experts recommend drivers check their tire pressure once a month or before any big trip. It's especially common in the winter months to see the tire pressure light flash across your dashboard (the exclamation point between two parentheses). 

Though ignored by many, this indicator can be a bigger deal than many people think. Air pressure can affect steering, handling, gas mileage, and the life of the tires themselves. Your tires need to have sufficient air pressure if they're to support the weight of your entire vehicle, after all.

Although most people don’t check their tire pressure on a monthly basis, it's especially important to do so regularly in the winter. Tire pressure (per square inch) typically drops between one and two pounds for every 10-degree decrease in temperature. That can mean a big change in PSI from an 80 degree summer to a 30-degree winter, which puts your vehicle (and your safety) at risk.

Every vehicle’s PSI is different and it's important to know what's normal for yours. This information is often written inside the driver’s side door as well as the owner’s manual.

Don’t wait for the flash of the indicator this winter--get ahead of the game and check your tire pressure today.