Maintaining proper tire inflation improves your vehicle’s efficiency

John had noticed a bit of drag on the highway. He went to a mechanic to solve the problem, but unfortunately, he couldn't hear him over the laughing. Image courtesy of 1.bp.blogspot.com

Have you noticed your car going a little slower, turning corners with a little less crispness than it used to? Is it using up more gas for no good reason? The inflation on your tires could be causing all these symptoms.

If your tires are underinflated, it can have a significant impact on your car’s fuel efficiency. Popular Mechanics explained that if your vehicle’s tires are underinflated by 10 psi (pounds per square inch), it could increase your fuel consumption by 10 percent.

Maintaining proper pressure in your tires is simple. All you need is a tire pressure gauge, which you can buy at an automotive parts store, a bike shop, a hardware store, a department store, or most gas stations, and a pump (preferably not a bike pump).

Your vehicle’s proper tire inflation is listed in your owner’s manual and at two places on your vehicle—on the driver’s side door panel, and on the rim of the tires themselves. The values listed are for cold tire pressure, meaning when your vehicle’s been at rest. When you drive, the pressure level drops slightly because air in the tires warms and contracts.

To measure tire pressure, try to check it when you haven’t been driving the vehicle. Remove the valve cap and place your tire gauge directly and securely on the stem—don’t rely on the gauges attached to air hoses at gas stations, their calibration may be off—it should register a number on the gauge. If it’s higher than specified, slowly release excess pressure by pushing against the small brass valve and checking the gauge until the recommended psi level is reached. If it’s under the specified level, you’ll need to pump the tire until it reaches the recommended level. Do this for all tires.

Most gas stations have pumps you can use, sometimes for free, other times for a few quarters. If you have an air compressor in your garage, you can do it at home, or you could buy a small, portable tire inflator that plugs into your vehicle’s DC outlet for about $20. They’re loud and take a few minutes, but are handy in an emergency.\

—Chris Meehan

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• August 17, 2010 -- Tire pressure examined
• March 30, 2010 -- Spring Cleaning for your Car