How to Measure Tire Pressure without a Gauge

One of the most important components to ensuring your vehicle performs well is its tires. Yet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that up to 30 percent of all drivers have at least one under or overinflated tire. Read on to learn more about the importance of properly inflated tires and how you can measure tire pressure without a professional equipment:

Why Proper Tire Pressure Matters for Your Vehicle

Proper tire pressure is important for several reasons:

• Safety: Properly inflated tires provide better weight distribution across your vehicle. This results in better traction, which helps with vehicle control. There's also less of a blowout risk when your tires are properly inflated.
• Tire life: Properly inflated tires ensure more even tread wear, which can help prolong tire life.
• Fuel economy: If your tires are underinflated, rolling resistance will increase. This means your car will work harder to move your vehicle, which may result in a decrease in fuel economy.

How to Measure Tire Pressure without a Gauge

Don't have a tire pressure monitor, but think your tires might be low? There are other ways you can measure it (even though we suggest verifying any suspicions with a gauge). Here's a look:

How to Spot Low Tire Pressure with a Visual Inspection

In some cases, you can spot low tire pressure by knowing what signs to look for on your tires themselves. Some things to watch out for include bulging or flattening on the bottom of the tire, especially if it's occurring near the sidewall. Other signs to look for during a visual inspection include uneven tire tread between tires.

Using the Hand Test to Check Tire Pressure

The hand test is another way to check your tire pressure. To do it, simply place your hand on the tire and press down on its surface with your palm.

If the tire is properly inflated, it will likely have a slight give when pressure is applied. A soft feel usually indicates that your tire needs air, while a firm feel indicates that it may be overinflated.

Detecting Low Tire Pressure Based on Driving Feel and Performance

As we said above, properly inflated tires result in safer driving. That said, you can often tell if your tires are low based on how your vehicle is handling. Some signs to take note of while you're driving include:

• Poor handling
• Vehicle drifting
• Increased stopping distance while braking
• Poor fuel efficiency

Need New Tires?

If you're regularly experiencing low tire pressure, it could be a bigger failure and it may be time to think about investing in a new set of tires. For more information about the importance of tire pressure and to get a quote on new tires, contact your local GreatWater garage today. As a network of full-service automotive centers, there's no job too big or too small for our professional technicians. Contact us today for more information.