Auto Maintenance 101: The Importance Of Proper Tire Inflation

Since the air in your tires supports 95% of the weight of your vehicle, proper tire inflation is critical for long-term performance and maintenance cost control.

In fact, spending just a few minutes each week monitoring your tire inflation levels could save you thousands of dollars in fuel, repairs, and part replacements—and your local TIRECRAFT can help, whether you prefer to DIY or leave it to the pros.

Read on to learn more about the importance of proper tire inflation, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to book a free consultation and tire fill-up.

Where Rubber Meets The Road: The Importance Of Proper Tire Inflation

1. Tire inflation levels largely determine vehicle safety and performance capabilities. You could be driving the most stunning performance vehicle in the world, fitted with sticky track tires, and blessed with optimal road conditions, but unless your tires are properly inflated, you’re in for a rough ride—perhaps even a dangerous one.

Underinflated tires face increased rolling resistance, which reduces tread life and can lead to sudden tire failure, as the sides of the tire bend, flex, and build up heat. In studies, these effects were observed when tires were underinflated by as little as 8 PSI.

On the other side of the coin, overinflated tires force your car to ride on a small, central portion of the tread, and this concentrated contact area means reduced grip, problems with steering and stopping, and more work for your suspension system.

2. Tire inflation levels dictate the service life of your tires. According to research by Transport Canada, operating a vehicle with a single underinflated tire can reduce the life of the tire by 15,000km, which is about one-quarter of some tires’ guaranteed service life. Making time to monitor your tire inflation can be a bit of a pain, but when you consider that it can increase your tire life by 25% or more, it is much easier to find the motivation!

3. Tire inflation levels make or break your gas mileage. In a rolling resistance study, Transport Canada found that operating a vehicle with just one tire underinflated by 8 PSI can increase vehicle fuel consumption by 4%.

4. Proper tire inflation is required to maintain your warranty coverage. Many Limited Manufacturer’s warranties stipulate that they will only cover replacements when necessitated by faulty materials or poor craftsmanship, so any damage clearly caused by poor tire inflation will not be covered. What’s more, many warranties require drivers to maintain proper tire inflation as a condition for coverage.

DIY Or Go Pro: Simplify Your Tire Inflation With TIRECRAFT

Whether you prefer to do it yourself or leave it up to the professionals, your local TIRECRAFT has everything you need to keep on top of your tire inflation. We carry a wide selection of quality tire inflators, all of which can earn you rewards points via the MyTIRECRAFT Rewards program, and every service includes a complimentary tire inflation check and top-up.

To book a free consultation or start browsing our selection of tire inflators, use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool on our website.

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