Many car enthusiasts pump up the tires of their “iron horse” by eye. Of course, few people today do this manually, because gas stations have special equipment that works completely automatically. But if you don't use one, you need to know what pressure your tires should be. This seemingly insignificant point affects vehicle controllability and other important indicators.
Some general information
Every motorist should know that tire pressure must be checked periodically and not wait until the tire is so low that it is visible to the naked eye. But in practice, only 25% of those who drive their own cars do this. It's safe to say that it was in vain. The fact is that a lot depends on how many atmospheres are in your wheel. Most people don’t even suspect that optimal pressure allows you to save fuel. Let's take a closer look at this issue and still find out what pressure should be in the tires of a car. By the way, a lot depends on its brand, as well as its load capacity, so in practice, not all wheels should be inflated to the standard level.
Ideal car tire pressure
Although it is difficult to give a specific figure, we will try to do so. Most car manufacturers make certain recommendations. As a rule, they contain parameters such as permissible load, maximum permissible pressure, tire size, etc. Often, when purchasing a car, there is a sticker that is located on the door pillar, glove compartment or directly on the tire. For example, Chrysler cars must be operated at a pressure of no more than 3 Atm. But this figure can hardly be considered ideal. Most passenger car manufacturers recommend inflating wheels to 2.5 atm. At this pressure, you can achieve maximum tire life, as well as optimal fuel consumption on the road.
What does over-inflation or lack of pressure in the tires lead to?
It is worth noting that many try to adhere to 3 Atmospheres. But you don't need to do this. Firstly, your tires will wear out 20% faster, and secondly, fuel consumption will increase slightly. If you drive at 4 Atmospheres, then it is quite possible that the wheels will break and fuel consumption will increase significantly. But so that you understand the seriousness, it is worth saying that the braking distance at a pressure of 4 or more atmospheres increases by 11 meters. It’s easy to come to the logical conclusion that the vehicle’s handling will not be at the highest level. As for insufficient pressure, less than 2 Atm, this is not very good either. These tires will wear unevenly, especially around the edges. That is, the central part of the tread will be almost new, and the rubber on the sides will already be bald. So what should your tire pressure be, you ask? Stick to around 2.1-2.3 Atmospheres. Let's move on.
What is a pressure gauge and how to use it
To perform this simple procedure yourself, you need to acquire a device called a pressure gauge. It measures the amount of air in kilograms per cm 2 of a tire. It is advisable to use the pressure gauge at least once a month. So, with reduced pressure, the wheels will not be able to properly absorb the load. As a result, controllability and braking performance will deteriorate. As for the measurement process, everything is quite simple. Take the pressure gauge and see what mark the arrow is at. If not at zero, then on the back of the case there is a special button that resets the current indicator. Once everything is ready, insert the device into the valve and you will hear the tire deflate. The needle on the pressure gauge should rise to the corresponding mark.
UND or universal pressure sensor
It happens that while the vehicle is moving, it leans to one side. Some drivers immediately go to the wheel alignment. But the problem is sometimes much closer than you might think. If the pressure in one wheel is normal, and in the second it is reduced by 15-20%, then the car can pull to the side. To constantly monitor the condition of the tires, it is necessary to install sensors. The essence of most of them is quite simple. There is a special cap with three zones: green, yellow and red. This sensor is screwed on instead of a standard cap. When the pressure drops, the driver receives a sound signal, which indicates a drop in tire pressure. But such a system is imperfect and works properly at speeds of no more than 50 km/h. However, car tire pressure can be measured using another method. For example, a sensor with a light signal. It is more accurate and provides reliable results at a speed of 80 km/h. Let's look at another interesting question.
What pressure should be in car tires?
It is necessary to understand that the uniformity and rate of tire wear depends on how timely and high-quality control is carried out. But with all this, do not forget that the pressure in the front and rear wheels of the car is slightly different. Even if this value is insignificant, it must be adhered to. So, it is better to pump the front wheels to 2-3 Atmospheres. As for the rear ones, since the load on them is often somewhat greater, the pressure in them should not be less than 2.2 Atm. Do not forget that significant cold weather causes tire pressure to drop sharply. So, for every -10 degrees Celsius there is 0.1 Bar. For this simple reason, instead of monitoring once a month, it must be carried out at least once a week.
A little about trucks
We have already talked a little about what control should be. Tire pressure is no joke, especially when it comes to trucks. For example, city buses must have optimal performance, which needs to be checked almost every day. Many drivers, as the load on their car increases, increase the tire pressure, but this is strictly forbidden. There are certain standards that must be followed. Therefore, regardless of whether you loaded 200 kilograms of cargo or 500, the pressure should remain the same. As for trucks, with a sufficient number of Atmospheres, fuel consumption and wear are reduced, and braking efficiency is increased and controllability is improved. We have already figured out how the measurement is carried out. The tire pressure of passenger vehicles and trucks is determined the same way, so there should be no problems.
Conclusion
We can say with great confidence that the correct pressure in your car tires is of great importance. This way you can change tires less often and feel more comfortable behind the wheel, as well as avoid unpleasant and conflict situations on the roads. Now you know how to check the air pressure in your tires, you may have noticed that there is nothing complicated about it. All you have to do is purchase a pressure gauge, which costs pennies. Always take it with you and in case of any suspicions you will be able to determine how much pressure is in the tires. Don’t forget to take a hand pump with you, because in an emergency we don’t always have the option of automatic pumping.
