Importance Of Proper Tire Inflation
How you load your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight than it was designed to carry.
For additional information regarding how much weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of the Tire and Loading Information label, see Loading the Vehicle section of your owners manual.
Under Inflated Tire Problems
• Too much flexing
• Too much heat
• Tire overloading
• Premature or irregular wear
• Poor handling
• Reduced fuel economy
Over Inflated Tire Problems
• Unusual wear
• Poor handling
• Rough ride
• Needless damage from road hazards
If your tires have an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be followed by an MS (for mud and snow).If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating and construction type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
When to Check:
Check your tires once a month or more. Do not forget to check the compact spare tire, it should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check Tire Pressure
Use a good quality pocket-type gauge to check tire pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly inflated even when they are under-inflated. Check the tire's inflation pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press the tire gauge firmly onto the valve to get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire inflation pressure matches the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading Information label, no further adjustment is necessary. If the inflation pressure is low, add air until you reach the recommended amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Re-check the tire pressure with the tire gauge.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
