One of the more neglected aspects of regular car maintenance is making sure that your cars tires are inflated to the proper pressure. Although this would seem to be a relatively simple operation and an easy part of your regular maintenance routine, a recent survey by the AAA affiliate in Arizona found that only 1 in 6 drivers knew how to properly check the pressure of their tires. This is a staggering number, especially considering that checking tire pressure is actually one of the simplest car maintenance tasks that a car owner can do.

Now, using a tire gauge is not the only part of checking the tire pressure. You also need to know when to check the tire pressure and what the proper pressure is in the first place. If you have any questions about this, you can usually consult your owner’s manual or stop by your local auto center or local auto shop for some help. Most car models have the proper tire inflation pressure printed on a sticker that is typically on the inside of the driver’s side door (though it is occasionally on the passenger side instead).

So why is it important to make sure that your tires are inflated to the proper air pressure? Well, tire pressure has an important effect on handling, fuel economy and safety. If your tire pressure is too high, less of your tire will contact the road meaning that your car won’t handle as well and you could have issues stopping as quickly. If too low, tire pressure can affect fuel economy as too much of the tire contacts the road which also means that your tires could wear down much quicker meaning a trip to the auto center or your local auto shop for a new pair and shelling out the money before you would have otherwise had to.

If you have any questions about tire pressure or if you need new tires, come into Fort Collins Foreign Car Service. As your go-to local auto shop, we can help check your tire pressure and fix any issues with irregular wear as well as install new tires.