Tire inflation is one of the unnerving and frustrating situations that motorists face. This is because they often forget to inflate their vehicle tires.
In fact, most motorists don’t have a portable tire inflator. They prefer visiting mechanic shops to check their tire pressure and inflate it.
While there’s nothing wrong with getting help from others, you never know when your tires will deflate in the middle of nowhere.
If you fall into such a situation where things have gone south, you may start googling “how to fix low tire pressure” or “how long can you drive with a low tire pressure?”
Understanding Tire Pressure and Why It Matters
Your car’s tires are designed to perform at a specific pressure level. This pressure, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), is essential for ensuring optimal handling, braking, and tire wear.
The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle can usually be found on the door jamb or in the owner’s manual. If the tire pressure drops below the recommended level, your vehicle’s performance can be compromised in several ways.
Effects of Low Tire Pressure
When your tire pressure is low, several things can go wrong. The primary risks include:
- Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which means your car has to work harder to maintain speed. This leads to a decrease in fuel efficiency.
- Increased Tire Wear: Low tire pressure causes tires to wear unevenly, often leading to bald spots or premature tire failure. This results in the need for expensive replacements sooner than expected.
- Poor Handling: When tires are not properly inflated, it can affect your car’s handling, making it more difficult to steer or stop. This is especially dangerous in emergency situations.
- Risk of Blowouts: Low tire pressure increases the risk of a tire blowout, which can be catastrophic, especially at high speeds.
Signs of Low Tire Pressure
The primary sign of low tire pressure is the low tire pressure symbol lighting up on your dashboard.
This symbol resembles a deflated tire with an exclamation point inside. Whenever the sensors in your vehicle detect a low PSI (pounds per square inch) reading, this light will illuminate.
However, this light won’t always turn on, depending on how low the tire pressure is and whether all sensors are functioning properly. Other signs of tire pressure include:
- Audible flapping sound while driving
- Jittery or unresponsive turning
- Decreased braking performance
- Decreased gas mileage
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to check your tire pressure.
Low Tire Pressure Causes
The common causes of low tire pressure are faulty valve stems, bent wheels or rims, poor seal on tire bead, tread puncture, temperature changes, low tire pressure, defective TPMS sensors, and bad tires.
Let’s look at these possible causes in-depth to see how they affect tire pressures.
#1. Bad valve stems.
Due to road salts and chemicals, tire valves can weaken after some period. Over time, there will be brittle or thin areas around the tire, which will cause slow pressure leaks.
Most times, pressure leaks from the valve stem occur on all four tires. This makes it easy to diagnose.
#2. Bent wheels or rims.
Another common cause of low tire pressure is bent wheels or rims. Check the wheels if you are experiencing a slow pressure drop or other wheel issues.
It could be you have a bent wheel or rim. If the rim or wheel is bent or damaged, it’ll allow slow tire pressure drop. Aside from the leaks, bent wheels will create severe tires issues if ignored.
#3. Tread puncture.
Some nasties on the road can puncture your car tire. One of these nasties is nails or screws. Tires kick up nails and cause tread punctures. This is quite common.
When car tires pick nails on the road, it often seems like the tire is not leaking. But that’s not true. Nail in tires causes gradual leaks as you hurdle down the road. You may be wondering, is 25 tire pressure too low?
The recommended tire pressure is between 32 and 35 PSI. 28 is the minimum you should go. Luckily, nails in tires are pretty straightforward and affordable to fix.
#4. Poor seal on tire bead.
If corrosion exists on the tire beads, it’ll eventually affect the sealant on the tire beads. Generally, poor seals on the tire beads are caused by rusted or corroded rims, bent wheels, improper installation, deteriorated rubber, or dirt trapped in the seal.
Thankfully, poor seals on tire beads are easy to diagnose. The visible signs of a poor tire bead sealant are ‘bead chaffing’ and ‘bead chunking.’
Bead chafing means obvious or accelerated wear on the part of the tire that rests on the flange, while bead chunking means a missing portion or small, raised pimples on the ridge where the rim and the tire seats.
#5. Temperature changes.
Oh yeah, temperature changes affect car tire pressure. It can also trigger the low tire pressure light on the dashboard. When the outside temperature is too high, the air density in the tire increases and decreases when the ambient temperature is low.
This means that you’ll experience low tire pressures in colder months. On the other hand, high ambient temperatures will help boost the tire pressure.
This is okay as far as it does not overinflate the tires. While driving with low tire pressure is bad, driving with high pressure also has drawbacks.
#6. Underinflated tires.
Under perfect conditions, tire pressure goes down over time and needs to be refilled. When this happens, the tire monitoring system will trigger the tire pressure light on the dashboard to notify the driver that it’s time to fill the tires. If this is the case, you only need to add air to the tires.
#7. Defective TPMS.
Imagine after refilling the tires, fixing any damage or replacing the tires entirely, and resetting the tire pressure monitor system, the low tire pressure warning light is still on the dashboard.
This will be a frustrating and unnerving situation, right? So if you are asking, why is my tire pressure light still on after filling tires? You likely have a damaged or faulty TPMS sensor.
#8. Old or bad tires.
When tires become bad or get to the end of their shelf life, they won’t maintain proper air pressure as usual.
If your tires are old, bad, or have gone below the tire tread depth, they will be prone to gradual air leaks. If you start noticing this gradual leak, it’s time to replace the tires.
Repercussions Of Driving With Low Tire Pressure
Many motorists give little thought to their tire pressure, let alone low tire pressure. Low tire inflation can cause premature wear on a vehicle’s tire. It can also affect the vehicle’s overall performance. For this reason, don’t allow your vehicle’s tire pressure to get too low.
One of the primary causes of a tire blowout is low tire pressure. Low inflation can cause uneven and outside tire wear, leading to a catastrophic tire burst on the road.
A tire blowout is a traumatic situation. If you have experienced it, you won’t want it to happen to anyone. It is quite frustrating and troubling. When air pressure in a tire gets too low, it’ll allow heat buildup in the tire, which could cause sidewall tire damage.
If the heat becomes worse, a part of the tire will separate from the carcass – the steel and fabric that is used in manufacturing the tire. If this happens, there will be a sudden blowout. A blowout happens unexpectedly and can lead to a collision.
A blowout projects more danger at high speeds, especially when traveling on the interstate.
There’s less chance to stop and go driving because the wheels are turning slowly. Still, a vehicle tire can burst at low speed because even at a lower speed, a sharp edge of a pothole can easily puncture low tire pressure.
Here are the repercussions or affects of a low tire pressure you should watch out for;
#1. Driving with low tire pressure affects handling.
When driving with low tire pressure, the sidewalls of the tire will flex more than they should; this leads to breaking and handling issues, especially when cornering. You’ll notice a wiggling movement on the tread and contact point of the tire with the road.
The tire will not hug the road as designed, and there will be unstable movement. You’ll also experience low poor traction and longer braking distance. It will become extremely dangerous in an emergency when trying to avoid a collision.
In such cases, you need the best of your car’s responsiveness, braking traction, and cornering stability. Low air tire pressure steals the braking traction, cornering stability, and grip needed during emergencies.
#2. Driving with low tire pressure causes bad gas mileage.
Low tire pressure increases fuel consumption. This is because a low tire pressure will not allow the vehicle to roll as fast as it should. It is like pedaling a bicycle with low tire pressure.
But if the tires are well inflated, it’ll be easy to pedal. It takes more power to move low-pressure tires, and that extra power comes with harder force. It also consumes more fuel to achieve this.
According to a report by EPA, you can boost your vehicle’s mileage up to 3% by keeping your tires well inflated at all times.
#3. Driving with low tire pressure cost more.
Since a low tire pressure can distort a tire’s footprint, it’ll cause uneven and inner tear wear.
This tire wear will usually happen on the outer and inner tire shoulders. Premature wear will cost you more bucks in tire replacement. It is important to understand tire wear patterns to know the cause.
How to Check Tire Pressure?
To check your tire pressure, you’ll need a pressure gauge, which can be purchased at any auto shop as well as at many grocery stores and gas stations.
Checking your tire pressure is easy here is how:
1. Locate the air valve on your tire and remove the cap. The air valve cap is usually black and sticks out from the inner tube of the tire.
2. Firmly press the pressure gauge to the open valve stem. Don’t be alarmed if you hear a hiss of air; that happens naturally as the connection is made.
3. Wait a few seconds as the pressure gauge reads the air pressure.
4. Check the air pressure gauge. Manual gauges will have a dial that points to the pressure, while digital gauges will show you the tire pressure on the screen.
5. Compare the number shown to the recommended tire pressure for your tires. Individual tires will have a maximum PSI on their sidewalls. However, each vehicle is different, and you should go by the tire pressure recommended on the sticker placed inside the driver’s door. If there is no sticker present, check your vehicle owner’s manual for the proper PSI for your tires.
6. Replace the air valve cap and repeat for every tire.
How To Fix Low Tire Pressure?
When your tire pressure is low, you need to add more air to your tires.
- If using a stationary air pump at a gas station, pull up as close as possible so the hose will stretch to all four tires.
- Find the recommended tire pressure on the sticker on your driver’s side door or in your owner’s manual.
- Remove the valve stem cap from the tire. Set it somewhere safe where you won’t lose it, like on top of the tire or in your pocket.
- Use the tire pressure gauge to check the current tire pressure.
- Attach the air pump hose to the valve stem.
- Turn on the air pump.
- Turn off the air pump. (Some pumps may fill to preset psi, in which case you can skip to step 9, while others you will have to stop manually).
- Remove the air pump hose from the valve stem and use your tire gauge to check the tire pressure. Repeat steps 5-8 as needed until you get to your tire’s recommended pressure.
- Replace the valve stem cap.
- Repeat for the next tire until you’ve checked all four tires on your vehicle.
- Don’t forget to check the tire pressure of your spare tire (if you have one)!
If your tires are hot because you had to drive to the air pump at the gas station, your tire pressure reading will not be accurate. However, you probably don’t want to sit at the gas station for three hours waiting for your tires to cool.
Instead, fill the tire to four psi above the minimum recommended pressure. The next morning, or after the tires have had time to cool for at least three hours, release tire pressure until you get to the recommended pressure using the steps in the next section.
Preventing Low Tire Pressure
Preventing low tire pressure is easier than fixing it. Here are a few tips to help you prevent low tire pressure:
#1. Regular Tire Pressure Checks.
Regularly checking your tire pressure can help you identify any issues before they become major problems. Make sure to check your tire pressure at least once a month.
Proper Tire Inflation
Proper tire inflation is essential for maintaining the recommended tire pressure. Make sure to follow the recommended inflation procedure for your vehicle.
#2. Tire Maintenance.
Tire maintenance is crucial for preventing low tire pressure. Make sure to rotate your tires regularly and check for any signs of damage or wear.
Driving Habits
Avoid aggressive driving habits, such as speeding and rapid acceleration, which can cause low tire pressure.
FAQs.
Q: Can you drive on tire with low pressure?
While it is possible to drive with low tire pressure, I do not recommend it. However, if you have a deflated tire with no inflator and spare tire, you may have no option other than to drive to a nearby gas station.
Still, I recommend removing the wheel and taking it to a nearby gas station. If the TPML just blinked on the dashboard, it means the air pressure is not too low.
However, it is dangerous to drive with low air pressure (no matter how small) on highways as it projects uneven outer and inner tire wear and exposes you to a collision.
Q: Why is my low tire pressure light on, but the tires are fine?
Newer vehicles have TPML. The low tire pressure light illuminates on the dashboard when the car computer notices a low tire pressure on one or more tires.
Depending on your vehicle, the car may project a menu on the screen that will show you the exact tire that is deflated. However, there are cases where the TPML will illuminate on the dashboard and the tires are properly inflated.
If this happens and all your tires are properly inflated, there are a few reasons for it to occur. One of the common reasons is a temperature change. Here’s why I recommend you have a tire air pressure gauge in your car to check and verify.
Q: At what PSI will a tire explode?
A standard tire should be inflated at 30 to 35 pounds per square inch. Under cold and hot weather driving conditions, the air temperature inside the tire expands to about 50 degrees.
This will increase the air pressure inside the tire by 5%. The explosion pressure of a tire is 200 PSI.
Q: What 3 items are essential to changing a tire?
Changing a vehicle tire is a simple and straightforward fix. It requires basic tools for easy replacement. Most vehicles come with these tools as a basic vehicle maintenance package. Your owner’s booklet should inform you where to find them.
3 essential items needed in changing your vehicle tire are;
- A jack
- A wheel spanner and a spray bar
- A spare tire.
Other tools you may need depending on your vehicle make are:
- Wheel locks
- Wheel wedges
- Work gloves
- Reflective triangles (if you’re changing the tires along the road)
- Tire repair kit (if you intend to patch a defective tire).
- Alignment studs
- Expansion bar for lowering the spare tire.
Final word
It is crucial to learn how to fix low tire pressure. And this article has provided a simple and easy-to-understand guide. There are affordable air pumps on the market shelves you can purchase and put in your car trunk.
If that’s unnecessary for you, you can always visit a gas station. Every gas station in the state has an air pump. For this, there’s no justification for driving with low tire pressure because it compromises safety.