It is vital to check your vehicle’s tire pressure regularly to improve handling and your safety on the road. If you ensure that your tires are always inflated to the proper pressure levels, it will save you money on gas and extend the life of your tires. In this article, your Nissan dealer explains how to check the tire pressure on your car and ensure they are inflated to the correct PSI.
Perform Tire Pressure Checks on Cold Tires
Wait for the tires to cool down before you do a tire pressure check. A tire pressure reading will be affected if the tires are hot. Wait two to three hours for tires to cool down before checking the tire pressure.
Find the Correct PSI
You need to know the correct tire pressure level for each tire on your vehicle. You will find the correct PSI for your vehicle’s tires on a sticker inside your driver’s door. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will also have information on the recommended tire pressure levels. If the tire pressure levels between the front and rear tires differ, write down the PSI for each tire on a piece of paper.
Use a Tire Pressure Gauge
Check the PSI of each tire with an analog or digital tire pressure gauge. An analog dial tire pressure gauge has a dial face with measurements, and an analog pen tire pressure gauge has a stick with numbers or a bar that moves upward to indicate the tire pressure level. The easiest is to use a battery-powered digital tire pressure gauge that gives a digital reading.
Measuring the Tire Pressure
You can start with any one of the tires on your car. Remove the valve cap and keep it in a safe place. Take your tire pressure gauge and press it against the valve stem until you hear a hissing sound. Hold the tire pressure gauge in place until you get a tire pressure reading. A digital tire pressure gauge will display the reading on a screen. The dial on a standard meter will point to the pressure, or a bar will move upward to show the tire pressure level.
Write Down the Reading
Write down the reading next to the recommended PSI for that specific tire. Perform a tire pressure reading on the rest of the tires. Remember to write down the reading next to the PSI for each tire. When you measure the tire pressure level of a tire, and it’s correct, you can replace the valve cap. If you need to inflate the tire, keep the valve cap in a safe place until after you’ve increased the level to the correct PSI.
Inflate the Tires
You now have the tire pressure readings of all four tires. Compare the reading of each tire to the correct tire pressure level that you wrote down on the piece of paper. If the PSI of a tire is lower than the recommended tire pressure level, inflate the tire until it reaches the correct level. It’s important not to overinflate the tires as it could cause damage to the tire.
If you notice a tire is overinflated, you can push the back of the tire pressure gauge down on the metal pin in the valve stem to release the excess air. Replace the valve cap when the tire is inflated to the correct tire pressure level.
Always keep your tires inflated to the correct tire pressure levels to prevent blowouts, decrease wear, and save you money on gas. We’re passionate about offering you all of the most valuable automotive information here at DARCARS Nissan of Rockville. So if you don’t want to stop there, check out our tips & tricks blogs to keep learning today!
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