Do car tires need inflation?
3 Answers
It is necessary to inflate car tires based on their condition: if the tire has damage; or if the tire pressure is too low. Daily maintenance for car tires can include the following: Check the tires: Inspect all tires, including the spare, at least once a month for pressure when they are cold. Avoid speeding: Do not exceed reasonable speeds required by driving conditions and legal limits (e.g., slow down or avoid obstacles like rocks or potholes ahead). Regular inspections: Perform wheel alignment and balancing periodically to ensure driving safety and achieve optimal mileage.
When I first bought my car, I didn't know much about it. Later, I realized that tires indeed need regular inflation. During normal driving, tires slowly lose air, especially when the weather changes significantly, the air pressure fluctuations become more noticeable. I check them myself every month using a tire pressure gauge. Generally, for family cars, maintaining a pressure between 2.3 and 2.5 bar is ideal. If the pressure is too low, you'll feel the steering wheel become heavier, and the tire sidewalls may develop wave-like deformations, which could lead to complete failure over time. Once, during a trip, I noticed the car pulling to one side, and after inflating the tires properly, the fuel efficiency improved significantly. Remember not to overinflate them, as excessive tire pressure can cause blowouts when hitting potholes. I recommend keeping a portable air pump in your car. You can either use the free air pumps at gas stations or spend a few dozen bucks on an electric pump.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, let me tell you, tire pressure is not something to be taken lightly. Last week, a car in our neighborhood was driving with a flat tire, and the sidewall was worn down to the steel wires. In fact, tires are like balloons—they naturally lose air even without a puncture. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tire pressure decreases by about 0.1. I usually check the manufacturer's recommended values on the fuel cap or driver's door frame and measure it with a mechanical gauge when the tires are cold. Nowadays, many new cars come with tire pressure monitoring systems, and when that little yellow light comes on, you should pay attention. The most dangerous consequence of low tire pressure is a blowout at high speeds, and it also increases braking distance by several meters. I always keep an air pump in my trunk and check all four tires before any long trip. If you notice one side consistently losing air, chances are there's a nail in it.
