How to check tire pressure without a tire pressure monitoring system?
2 Answers
Without a tire pressure monitoring system, you can check tire pressure through methods like pressure sensors and visual inspection. The specific methods are introduced as follows: Pressure sensor method: Install a pressure sensor in each tire to directly measure the tire pressure. The pressure information is transmitted wirelessly from inside the tire to a central receiver module, which then displays the pressure data for each tire. The system will automatically alert when the tire pressure is too low or there is a leak. Visual inspection method: Observe the height and flatness between the two tires. Inflated and uninflated tires differ in width and contact area with the ground. An uninflated tire will have a larger contact area than an inflated one. If the steering wheel pulls to one side or the car drifts in a certain direction while driving, it could also indicate abnormal tire pressure due to unequal torque on both sides.
As a veteran driver with decades of experience, I find that regularly checking tire pressure manually is simple yet crucial. Without a monitoring system, I rely on a portable tire pressure gauge – you can get a reliable one for just a few dozen bucks on the market. Every morning before setting off, after the car has been parked overnight and the tires are completely cold, I remove the valve cap, press the gauge onto the valve stem to read the pressure, and then compare it with the recommended value on the door frame sticker (usually between 32-35 psi). If it's low, I find an air pump to inflate it; don't wait until it's too flat to deal with. I remember once neglecting it and feeling the steering wheel unstable on the highway, almost losing control. Since then, it's become a habit for me to check it monthly. Both too high and too low tire pressure affect safety and fuel consumption. Too low wears the tire edges, wastes fuel, and increases the risk of a blowout; too high makes the suspension worse and the ride uncomfortable. Spending two minutes on this can prevent big problems.
