Inspecting tire pressure before traveling can save time, money, you Published July 2, 2012 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- As the temperature climbs, Airmen are preparing to leave the area for vacation, or potentially travel to austere locations. During this time of intense travel, all Airmen are reminded to properly check and maintain their vehicle tires. Studies of tire safety show that maintaining proper tire pressure and inspecting tired for wear, cuts or other anomalies can increase the life of your tires and thus, save time, money and possibly your life, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The U.S. Department of Transportation also maintains that these activities, in conjunction with proper vehicle maintenance, can improve vehicle handling, which can limit breakdowns and accidents, and improve fuel efficiency. Tire pressure is a number that indicates the amount of air pressure - measured in pounds per square inch - that a tire requires to be properly inflated. This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions. Tires are designed to be used on more than one make and model of automobile, therefore, tire manufacturers list the "maximum permissible inflation pressure" on the tire sidewall. The recommended tire inflation pressure that vehicle manufacturers provide reflects the proper psi when a tire is cold. The term cold does not relate to the outside temperature. Rather, a cold tire is one that has not been driven on for at least three hours. When you drive, your tires get warmer, causing the air pressure within them to increase. Therefore, to get an accurate tire pressure reading, you must measure tire pressure when the tires are cold or compensate for the extra pressure in warm tires. The U.S. Department of Transportation offers these six, simple steps to regulating vehicle tire pressure: · Step 1: Locate the recommended tire pressure on the vehicle's tire information placard, certification label, or in the owner's manual. · Step 2: Record the tire pressure of all tires. · Step 3: If the tire pressure is too high in any of the tires, slowly release air by gently pressing on the tire valve stem with the edge of your tire gauge until you get to the correct pressure. Driving with over inflated tires will also have negative consequences on vehicle performance. · Step 4: If the tire pressure is too low, note the difference between the measured tire pressure and the correct tire pressure. These "missing" pounds of pressure are what you will need to add. · Step 5: At a service station, add the missing pounds of air pressure to each tire that is underinflated. · Step 6: Check all the tires to make sure they have the same air pressure (except in cases in which the front and rear tires are supposed to have different amounts of pressure). Airmen should check tire pressure at least once per month because tires naturally lose air over time, and it may not be possible to determine under inflation visually. All airmen are encouraged to purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in their vehicles. Gauges can be purchased at car dealerships, auto supply stores and other retail outlets. These helpful hints will keep your tires in good condition, longer and keep you safe on the roads. For more information on tire safety, check out the U.S. Department of Transportation , the Georgia Department of Transportation or call the 94th Airlift Wing Safety Office at 678-655-5051. Contributed by Air Combat Command Public Affairs and U.S. Department of Transportation.
