What Does Tire Pressure Calibration Mean?
2 Answers
Tire pressure calibration refers to the process of addressing abnormal tire pressure alerts from the tire pressure monitoring system. First, check if the tire pressure is normal, then proceed with the tire pressure reset. Start the car, navigate to the odometer interface on the dashboard, use the steering wheel's directional buttons to move right to the maintenance settings, select tire pressure, and press OK to reset. Typically, the recommended inflation pressure for household cars is between 0.2-0.25MPa. This ensures safe driving, comfort, and minimizes fuel consumption. Hazards of Overinflated Tires: Reduced friction and adhesion, affecting braking performance; Causes steering wheel vibration and misalignment, reducing driving comfort; Accelerates wear on the central tread pattern, shortening tire lifespan; Increases vehicle vibration, indirectly affecting the lifespan of other components; Overstretches tire cords, reducing elasticity and increasing driving load; Decreases puncture resistance, making tires more susceptible to damage from sharp objects like nails or glass, leading to blowouts. Hazards of Underinflated Tires: Increases friction with the road surface, raising fuel consumption; Makes steering heavy and prone to misalignment, compromising safety; Increases movement within tire components, causing abnormal heat from excessive rolling; Weakens cords and rubber, leading to delamination, cord breakage, or rim friction damage; Multiplies ground friction, rapidly increasing tire temperature, softening the tire, and drastically reducing strength, risking blowouts at high speeds; Enlarges tire deformation, causing sidewall cracks, excessive heat, rubber aging, cord fatigue, and accelerated shoulder wear.
Tire pressure calibration means inflating your tires to the manufacturer-recommended level—not too little, not too much. Having driven for over a decade, I often see people neglect this, leading to skyrocketing fuel consumption or rapid tire wear. For example, in summer, high temperatures can increase tire pressure, while in winter, it may drop, so it’s essential to check periodically with a simple handheld pressure gauge. Many new cars now come with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS); when its warning light comes on, I either visit a repair shop or calibrate it myself. The core goal is safety—incorrect pressure can cause blowouts at high speeds, which is extremely dangerous. Making this a habit also saves money, as the fuel savings outweigh the time spent inflating.
