Maintaining tire pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended pound per square inch (PSI) is a critical part of vehicle maintenance. Tires that have been inflated with the proper amount of pressure can last longer and can attribute to overall vehicle safety.

Many modern-day vehicles will alert the driver if there is an issue, like tire pressure. But, it’s a good idea to know the signs and dangers of tire pressure that doesn’t meet manufacturer PSI standards.

Dangers of Low Tire Pressure

Tires that are underinflated will hinder the vehicle’s ability to brake quickly and creates a less responsive steering and handling. This can be particularly dangerous when the vehicle needs to stop suddenly or maneuver quickly to avoid a collision or another potential danger.

Low tire pressure allows
the sidewalls to flex excessively, which can generate heat. Moderate heat will simply accelerate tread wear, while high heat can lead to the loss of tread segments — even blowouts.

Underinflated tires also have a higher rolling resistance, which will reduce fuel economy in the vehicle. This resistance can cause the outer edges to wear more rapidly than a properly inflated tire. Replacing the tires will need to happen faster than anticipated than tires that are inflated to the manufacturer recommendations.


Low tire pressure symptoms:

Reduced gas mileage:
If the vehicle looks like a burning gas faster than usual, it may be due to low tire pressure. It is good to note how long your vehicle can go before refueling under normal driving conditions. With this in mind, you are aware that burning gas is too fast.

Alignment Problems:
Tires without equal pressure can push the vehicle out. If the vehicle feels that it is not aligned or drifted to the other side, it may be due to low tire pressure on the other side.



Dangers due to high tire pressure:

Modern tires can withstand pressures that exceed the recommended inflation pressure better than under inflation. This does not mean, however, that the higher pressure will cause no problems or damage.

Constant inflation of the tires creates the risk of damage when driving over a pothole. We all try to avoid them, it can also cause the vehicle to feel like jumping on the road.

The middle tread also tends to wear faster if a tire is inflated too much. The center wears off faster, with fewer outside edges touching the road. Similar to tires with low tire pressure, this means that the set needs to be replaced faster.

Tips on tire inflation:
Be sure to check all four tires when checking the pressure. Just because it seems to be a problem doesn't mean that others are at the optimum level. Keep the appropriate tire pressures by following these tips:

i) Keep a high-quality tire gauge in the glove box. Both digital and selection meters can provide accurate PSI readings.
So if you are at work or at home, you can check the pressure without finding a service station.

ii) Check tires regularly. Depending on how much you drive, you change how often the tires need to be checked. If you
are going to drive a large number of miles, you should check once a week. If you're on a journey, check the tires again before leaving.

iii) Follow the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

iv) If recommended by the manufacturer, increase tire pressure when pulling, heavy loads or on long highway trips.


It is important to keep an eye on the weather conditions when inflating the tires of your vehicle.

In cold weather, the tire pressure may decrease by 1-2 pounds per 10 degrees of temperature drop. It is important to maintain a proper PSI so that traction control and handling are not hindered in bad weather.

In the same way as cold weather can lead to a decline in PSI, excessive heat can lead to a temporary increase in PSI. For every 10 degrees of elevated temperature, tires may gain 1-2 pounds of pressure.

To compensate for tread wear and maximize the life of the tire, it is imperative that there be adequate pressure in each tire. If you ensure that this helps your vehicle to function properly, then you are protected while driving.
[img]https://1.bp..com/-Q0uONijUicM/XHf_Tf2vduI/AAAAAAAACIo/o7ibFWQICNIiL6IqFApYL4Fj8336OSfSACLcBGAs/s320/tireeeee.jpg[/img]
Source:
http://www.eliancars.com/2019/02/significance-of-maintaining-tire.html#more


cc: Lalasticlala, Marpol

this thread though