Tire pressure. It's something that most people don't give a lot of thought to. As long as the tires look full and the vehicle keeps running smoothly, they assume that everything is okay. Unlike keeping your car clean and waxed, maintaining proper tire pressure is an important part of maintaining your tires and your vehicle. The easiest and fastest way for your tires to loose pressure is if they suffer a tire puncture . Nails, glass, and other materials on the roadway can quickly damage your tires forcing you to repair or replace the tire. Although we have all experienced a flat tire at one time or another, this is an extreme example. Even with regular use, low to moderate driving as well as parking, your tires will loose pressure.

Checking your vehicles tire pressure is something that can be done yourself on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. All you need to check the tire pressure is a tire pressure gauge . There are many different types of gauges--smaller ones that resemble a pencil in size, digital ones, and dial ones. The dial gauges are known for being the most accurate; however, it is really a matter of preference and price. If you want the most accurate reading you can ask your service mechanic to check the pressure next time your in for an oil change or to rotate the tires. The most important thing to keep in mind when checking the tire pressure is the temperature of the tires. To get the most accurate results your tires should be cold, meaning at air temperature. If you have been driving for a while let them cool down for a couple hours. If you have to drive to a service station to check and fill the tires try to keep it within a couple miles. Also make sure that you check all four tires. Just because 2 or 3 have the proper pressure doesn't mean that all four will. It's a good idea to check the spare tire occasionally as it would be a real bummer to need it only to find out it's flat. Every tire has its own recommend and maximum pressure. There are a variety of factors that contribute to this; including tire size, use, and type of vehicle. Even though there is a standardized system for making and rating tires, Falken tires won't necessarily have the same psi as Dunlop tires.To find the recommend tire pressure for your tires you can look on the inside panel of the driver's door, the glove box, and sometimes on the gas door. If you are unable to locate the information check your owner's manual for the location and possibly even the pressure information. Maintaining the proper tire pressure is more than just keeping the tires at a certain psi. With proper tire pressure you are able to maintain better traction when driving and braking, drive smoother, improve gas efficiency, and extend the life of your tires.