Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice: Do not let anyone tell you
that under-inflation or over-inflation is all right. It is not. If your
tires do not have enough air (under-inflation), you can get the following:
• | Premature or irregular wear |
If your tires have too much air (over-inflation),
you can get the following:
• | Needless damage from road hazards |
A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Information label is
attached to your vehicle. This label shows your vehicle's original equipment tires
and the correct inflation pressures for your tires when they are cold. The recommended
cold tire inflation pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum amount of air pressure
needed to support your vehicle's maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much weight your
vehicle can carry, and an example of the Tire and Loading Information label, see
Loading the Vehicle
. How you load your vehicle affects
vehicle handling and ride comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight than it
was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Do not forget to
check the compact spare tire, it should be at 60 psi (420 kPa). For
additional information regarding the compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire
.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire pressure.
You cannot tell if your tires are properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inflated even when they are under-inflated. Check the
tire's inflation pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle has been
sitting for at least three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press the
tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire inflation
pressure matches the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading Information label,
no further adjustment is necessary. If the inflation pressure is low, add air until
you reach the recommended amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing
on the metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Re-check the tire pressure
with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems. They
help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.