It’s officially fall, y’all! That means temperatures are falling, and if you’re an early riser you know that frost season has already crept in. So as a responsible car owner, you have a very important task to tackle this week. This week we want you to check your tire PSI. This often gets overlooked but is very important to your safety and vehicle performance. So why are we just talking about it? Great question! Well, when the temperature outside drops so does your tire’s PSI! In fact, outside temperatures can cause tire pressure to vary by as much as 1 psi per 10 degrees. So, the time to get your PSI in check is now! Follow the tips and tricks below or schedule your service appointment today with the pros here at Destination Nissan! 

Why it’s important to check your tire pressure…

• Your safety 
• Longer lasting tires
• Improved handling and control
• Reduced risk of accidents and blowouts
• Better fuel economy
• Reduced carbon footprint

Tips for Checking and Filling Your Tires

• When the temperature drops, we suggest checking your tire pressure. 
• Outside temperatures can cause tire pressure to vary by as much as 1 psi per 10 degrees.

What’s the right PSI level?

•  The recommended PSI for your vehicle’s tires is determined by the vehicle’s manufacturer and the recommended tire size.
• You can find this information in your owner’s manual or on the placard inside of the door edge, glove box door, or fuel door.
• In most newer vehicles, your vehicle will alert you when your vehicle’s tires fall below the recommended PSI 
• Do NOT use the max PSI that is printed on the tire sidewall. The pressure amount on the tire is normally the maximum allowed pressure. 
• Over-inflation can lead to poor handling and comfort, overheating, and blowouts.

How to properly inflate your tires.

• If you do not have air at home, most gas stations have an air pump for you to use. 
• Remove dust caps from the tires’ valve stems.
• Insert your tire gauge into the tire valve and leave it in for a few seconds
• When you remove it, the gauge will provide a PSI reading
• If the tire gauge’s recorded reading is higher than the manufacturer-recommended rating, press the gauge tip on the valve stem until you hear air leak out. Check the tire pressure again.
• If the reading is lower than recommended, you will need to fill the tire with air. 
• When filling the tire, firmly press the air-hose into the valve, as you did with the tire gauge
• When you think you’ve added or let out enough air, check the pressure a few times with the gauge.
• Return the valve dust caps.