How to properly check your car's tire pressure.
(Baonghean.vn) - Car tires need to have the correct pressure; underinflated or overinflated tires both compromise safety. Therefore, it is necessary to have a proper understanding of standard tire pressure levels, especially in the summer, to ensure safe vehicle operation.
Manufacturer's recommended tire pressure
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Information about the recommended tire pressure for a car, as provided by the manufacturer, is usually found in the car's owner's manual or on a sticker attached to the door/door sill. This number is typically expressed in PSI, KPa, or Bar and is usually the maximum allowable pressure.
Each vehicle has a different recommended tire pressure, so users should refer to the manufacturer's specifications when inflating their tires.
1 PSI (Pound per square inch) = 6.895 KPa. 1 KPa = 1,000 Pa = 1,000 kg/cm². 1 KPa = 0.01 Bar; PSI, KPa, or Bar are common units of tire pressure measurement found in owner's manuals or on pressure gauges.
For most sedan, MPV, or small pickup truck models, the standard tire pressure is typically between 27 and 32 PSI. Some models using specialized tires may have tire pressures as high as 40 PSI.
Check the tire pressure indicated on the sidewall of your car.
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This is especially important when buying a used car. Because the tires may have been replaced with new ones, not the original manufacturer's tires. And since there are many tire manufacturers, you need to check the pressure specifications printed on the tire sidewall.
The pressure rating on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure your tire can withstand. Please note that this is not the optimal pressure for operation.
The pressure is indicated on the door sill.
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The pressure indicated on the door sill is the manufacturer's recommended pressure. The actual tire pressure needs to be adjusted to compensate for the weight of the cargo/passengers in the vehicle. Generally, reducing the recommended pressure by 10-15% is the optimal level.
It's important to note that the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure is the pressure when the tires are cold – after the vehicle has been stopped for a long time and the tire surface is not hot.
Adjust tire pressure according to the season.
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Experienced car users often rely on visual inspection to assess tire pressure. However, this is often inaccurate. Because car tires are becoming thinner and thinner, it's very difficult to determine tire pressure accurately with the naked eye.
Furthermore, in the summer, high temperatures cause the air to expand more than usual, so it's necessary to inflate tires slightly below the ideal level to ensure that when the tires heat up, the pressure doesn't exceed the tire's capacity.
Conversely, in winter, tires should be inflated to just the right pressure so that when the tires heat up, the internal pressure remains at the ideal level.
When to check your car's tire pressure
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For safety reasons, you should check your tire pressure every time you refuel or every 30 days. You should also check your tire pressure and adjust it accordingly when the temperature changes suddenly.
Furthermore, even when the vehicle is stationary and the tires are new, the pressure decreases by approximately 0.7 PSI per month. Therefore, if the vehicle is not used for an extended period, it is advisable to check and adjust tire pressure accordingly.