How to inflate your tires step by step

How to inflate your tires step by step

Inflating your tires can be intimidating, but is actually pretty straight forward and is an important operation to prevent accidents. Did you know that a tire 25% below its recommended pressure is three times as likely to be involved in a crash, while a tire 25% higher is twice as likely as a properly inflated tire, according to data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency (1) ? When you notice your tires seem kind of low, take the time to take care of them! Be aware that the weather will have an influence on the tire pressure, so be extra cautious in case of temperature drop or sudden increase. Here is a quick guide to help you through the process:

1. Get your tire pressure gauge

To get started, you will need to use a tire pressure gauge (some portable tire pressure fillers are also pressure gauge) . You can get the old school one that looks like a thermometer or the modern one that is electronic and gives you an instant reading.

2. Ensure your tires are cold

To inflate your tires, note that they have to be cold! So it means it is preferable to do this first thing before driving or in between trips. Either go to the gas station and park next to the air dispenser or if you want to do this in the comfort of your own garage, equip yourself with a convenient portable tire pressure filler. These are pretty inexpensive and can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of the vehicle.

3. Identify the correct air pressure for each tire

Next, identify at which level your tire pressure needs to be, for each tire. Sometimes, there are indications on the tire itself (and what level not to go above), in the driver’s manual in the glove box and even on the inside of the gas tank door. Other times it is even indicated in the door. Be aware that the pressure for the front tires and the back tires is different. The measurement unit would be in PSI (pound per square inch).

4. Remove the valve stem caps.

5. Grab the nozzle of the air dispenser and fill up the tires to the recommended level.

Make sure to not overfill them as this is one of the main causes of road accidents.

6. Check the pressure again for each tire to make sure it has been adjusted properly.

Replace the caps. You are all set!

Here is a little info graphics recap that you can print here: https://bit.ly/3J6AZNE