Tire Pressure Changes During the Winter and Summer
If you’ve been driving long enough, you’ve noticed how weather affects tire pressure. As temperatures fluctuate during the winter and summer, you’ve probably encountered tire pressure issues. Tire pressure changes are more likely to happen in the cold of winter, but summer can be a culprit too. Your tire performance drops, increasing the chances of a flat tire or other problems. In this month’s blog, Bass Transmissions & Automotive Repair looks at how weather affects tire pressure.
Winter Weather Affects Tire Pressure Significantly
We’ve all experienced the dreaded low tire pressure warning message going off in the winter. It seems your tire pressure warning signal is coming up more during the winter. That’s probably true. The reason is air contracts when it’s cold. That causes tire pressure to drop between one and two psi (pounds per square inch) for every 10-degree temperature decrease. Your tires could be five to 10 psi lower than required on a 20-degree day than a 70-degree day.
Keep Your Tire Pressure Between 30 and 35 PSI
It’s important to know what tire pressure is right for your vehicle. Usually, the recommended pressure ranges between 30 and 35 PSI. At many tire inflation stations, the air pump is set at 32 PSI. Check your vehicle’s instruction booklet for what the optimal tire pressure should be. We know you don’t want to be putting air into your tire on a cold winter day. But you should as soon as see the dashboard message.
Your Tires Could Be Overinflated During the Summer
Tire pressure can also change during the heat of the summer in Virginia. The danger of a tire blowout increases during the hottest days of summer. If your vehicle’s tires have too much air due to heat, this can be problem. If your tire pressure is too high before driving, it will most likely increase with friction from the road. When your tire pressure warning signal appears, check your tire pressure as soon as possible.
Release the Air if Your Tire Pressure is Too High
When your tire pressure is too high, you have to release some of the air out of your tires. If you don’t know how to release the air, remove the valve stem cap from the affected tire. Then use a small tool to press down on the pin inside the valve. Be sure to stop and check your tire pressure each time you depress the pin. Make sure you’re not releasing too much air. After you replace the valve stem cap, watch for any more tire pressure issues on hot days.
Call Bass Transmissions & Automotive Repair in Roanoke, VA, at (540) 345-8871, or like us on Facebook. Our staff can explain more about how weather affects tire pressure.
