While you're itching to put those
summer tires back on, make sure to check the condition of your warm season tires before driving on them!
Check for :
- Adequate tread depth - Most street tires start with 10/32" of tread depth. When the tire's tread depth is below 4/32" drivers will begin to lose sufficient wet traction. And once the tire's tread has worn down to 2/32", the tire is considered legally worn out.
- Uneven wear - If you find areas of the tread that are more worn than others, you may want to have your alignment checked.
- Air Pressure - After your tires have been installed, check your tire's air pressure with an accurate air pressure gauge. Take a look at Accutire tread depth gauges, as they are designed to provide precise readings every time.
Are you checking your tire’s air pressure?
The Tire Rack Street Survival teen driving schools are developed to provide a controlled environment for young drivers to learn car control through experiencing their vehicles’ handling and stopping capabilities. One year we decided to do a test and got out our air gauge to measure the tire pressure on the participants’ vehicles as they arrived for the hands-on driving school. And the results showed that only 59 of 280 tires checked were correctly inflated!
For more information on checking tire pressure, read:
“We’re Checking Who’s Checking Tire Pressures”NOTE: Tire Rack offers air gauges from
Intercomp and
Accutire to help ensure your automobile tires are always properly inflated.
If your tires are going to provide the handling, traction and durability they are capable of, then maintaining proper air pressure is required.
Many drivers spend money on new
springs or buy
car battery, but forget about something as simple as periodically checking their tire’s air pressure. Adjusting the tire inflation pressure to the “right” inflation pressure helps ensure there are no sacrifices to your tire’s performance.
Remember, you can’t set tire pressure and then forget about it. Consider an air gauge from Accutire, as they accurately measure air pressure within +/- .5 psi and are easy to read.
Accutire air gauges are backed by a 5-year warranty and include lifetime lithium batteries.
View all Accutire products
here.
With cold temperatures dominating our forecasts, it is important to monitor your tire's air pressure. Tire Rack offers a variety of air gauges to meet your needs.
Accutire Digital Set Point - Allows you to store your vehicle's pressure information and incorporates a small flashlight at the top of the gauge.
If you are looking for something smaller, consider: Accutire Digital Pencil Air Gauge 
and the
Accutire ABS Coated Air Gauge 
Remember, monitoring your tire's air pressure will help ensure the best fuel efficiency and tire wear for your vehicle.
When was the last time you checked your tire's air pressure? If the answer is some time last season, get the
air pressure gauge out and take an accurate reading. Did you know your tire pressure can dip 1 psi for every 10ºF drop in temperature. The change in air temperature could mean your tire's air pressure is significantly lower than the recommended amount.
A properly pressured tire is better suited to deal with slush and snow as its contact patch is working at its peak efficiency. It is important to note that if you take the reading in a warmer garage, consider adding three to five psi higher than recommended, as the car will be operating outside the insulated garage.
For more winter tire pressure tips check out
this tech article.
During winter months the temperature can be 40 degrees Fahrenheit one day and below zero just a few days latter.
A change of 10 degrees Fahrenheit in air temperature will change your tire's inflation by about one psi (up with higher temperatures and down with lower).
You might think that your tires support the wieght of your vehicle, but they do not. It's the
air pressure inside them. Maintaining proper air pressure is a must if your tires are to provide the best handling, traction and durability.
We have several excellent
air pressure gauges to help you maintain proper psi and ensure the best performance and safety your tires can provide.
It's recommended that you
check your tire pressures on a regular basis to help your vehicle deliver the highest possible fuel economy and longest tire life.
Tire Rack features Accutire digital air gauges to make it a snap to check your tire pressures. Some of the more popular models are shown below.
Digital Set Point Programmable Air Gauge w/Light
Digital Pencil Air Gauge
ABS Coated Air Gauge
Visit
Tire Rack, make your selection and start improving your fuel economy and extending the life of your tires today!
Have you checked your
spare tire lately? Flat tires happen, usually without warning, so it's absolutely essential that you give your spare tire some attention on a regular basis. For starters, make sure you know how to install a spare tire on your vehicle. It can be tricky, but your Owner's Manual should provide all of the instruction you need. Once you get it down to a science, make sure you check the air pressure in your spare on a regular basis. A flat spare won't do you any good. Again, your vehicle's Owner's Manual should tell you exactly how much air should be in your spare.
Tire Rack offers a number of suitable
tire pressure gauges that simplify the process.
And since we're on the topic of spare tires, did you know that not all spare tires are alike? They actually come in a variety of different forms that usually depend on your vehicle. Let's take a look:
Full-Size Matching Spare Tire and Wheel: It requires the most storage space, but is an exact replica of your existing tire and wheel set. Integrate it into your tire rotation schedule from the beginning to assure proper tread wear. And unlike the following spare tire types, you can drive on this spare tire as long as the tread is acceptable.
Full-Size Temporary Spare: Despite the fact that a full-size temporary spare matches your vehicle's original tire dimensions, it isn't the same in terms of tread depth and weight. These spares are lighter, which makes the tire easier to install. In addition, it comes premounted on a steel wheel.
Compact Temporary Spares: This is the short and narrow type, which takes up less space in your trunk but doesn't offer the tread you'd need to drive a significant amount of miles. It's a temporary fix, indeed. And one that shouldn't be used on any vehicle other than the one it comes with.
Folding Temporary Spare: How does a tire fold? Well, when there isn't any air in it, it can fold up quite nicely to save space. But generally not time as you'll need to inflate a folding temporary spare should the need for it arise.
It is no secret that today's drivers demand performance from their tires. Load capacity, traction control and temperature durability are all critical factors when selecting your tires. However, none of these performance aspects matter if you do not maintain the correct tire inflation (PSI) for the tires on your vehicle.
Ensuring that you have the correct PSI is one of the best practices you can do to maintain the overall value and longevity of your tires. Keeping your PSI at the proper levels will maximize your tire's performance characteristics, optimize your fuel economy and keep your expected driving experience in tact.
At Tire Rack, we offer a multitude of PSI monitoring devices to help you monitor your tires. On our Air and Tread Depth Gauges page, we provide an extensive list of Intercomp Pressure Gauges and Accutire Air Gauges for your convenience. These devices will help you maintain your tires and keep you safe and satisfied.
Here are some examples:
Intercomp 2.5" Deluxe Air Pressure Gauge
Acccutire ABS Coated Air Gauge
Yes, actually.
Altitude changes can affect the pressure in your tires, though admittedly the change is minimal. Still, any change in tire pressure is a change worth noting because it's the tire pressure itself that carries the weight of your vehicle. So if you live in a mountainous area, or if you plan to drive through one soon, you'll want to pay attention.
As you reach new heights, the air up there tends to thin out. Which means the atmospheric pressure weakens. And no, atmospheric pressure and tire pressure are not the same thing. The air in your tires does not thin out. The difference is in the way your tire pressure gauge reads the pressure within, as it is designed to read ambient atmospheric pressure. Because ambient pressure increases as you go up in elevation, tire pressure would appear to increase. And as you descend, it would appear to decrease.
You can read our full report on this topic:
"The Influence of Altitude Changes on Tire Pressure." And, as always, it makes sense to have a working
tire pressure monitoring system and an
air pressure gauge at all times.
Auto manufacturers have eliminated the spare tire in many of their new models, opting instead for the use of run-flat tires or a portable tire repair kit. So far the trend has been most prevalent with higher-end vehicles, however General Motors recently introduced its new compact car, the Chevrolet Cruze sans spare tire.
Car makers today believe that the mandated implementation of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) over the past several years has significantly reduced the likelihood that a flat tire will leave you stranded. In addition, eliminating the spare, including the jack and tools can reduce the car's weight by over 25 lbs. Decreased weight is one of the ways new car engineers are able to improve fuel economy.
Run-flat tires can allow you to continue to drive safely for 50 miles at up to 50 mph in most cases with 0 air pressure in the tire. Unfortunately, run-flat tires are more expensive than their non run-flat counterparts plus ride comfort and in some cases tread life can be less than stellar.
So if you don't have a spare but you don't like the idea of putting run-flat tires back on your car...what do you do?
Continental Tire North America, Inc. has introduced the ContiComfortKit (CCK) to the North
American replacement market. This system is designed to temporarily seal a tire puncture and provide extended mobility up to 125 miles.
The ContiComfortKit comfortably restores mobility in a few easy steps. The kit is simply plugged into a 12v power outlet; a flexible hose at the other end is connected to the valve of the flat tire. Once the sealant tank is flipped up, a twelve volt compressor re-inflates the tire at the push of a button and simultaneously fills the tire with a latex based, liquid sealant, which seals the puncture. As a result, the tire can be used at a maximum speed of 50 mph for up to 125 miles. Drivers can get to the nearest tire shop and do not rely on road side assistance. A built-in light allows for easy use even at night.
The CCK is only 9.5" long, 7" wide and 4" high. It weighs only 5.5 pounds and does not require permanent installation. It is simple to use and provides mobility in minutes. It can be easily stored in the trunk of the vehicle. The kit can also be used as a compressor to check and monitor tire pressure through a built-in compressor and tire gauge.
The CCK has already been a success with car manufacturers. Since its introduction, it has obtained original equipment approvals for BMW, Ford and Volvo to name a few.
- If your new car has no spare and no room to store an extra tire/wheel...
- If you don't like the stiff ride or the expense of run-flat tires...
To learn more about the ContiComfortKit, watch How to Use the ContiComfortKit.
Even though many new cars have tire pressure monitoring sensors installed, they do not always give the exact air pressure. They simply alert you when the air has dropped.
Tire Rack has introduced two new air gauges, the
Intercomp 2.5" Deluxe Air Pressure Gauge and the
Intercomp 4' Deluxe Air Pressure Gauge. My first thought was, ”What is the difference between the two?” Then, when I walked down to see them in our new products display it became very apparent. Check out the pictures below to see the difference.
Both gauges have their plusses and minuses. The 4" gauge was a little bigger than I like to use when checking pressures and it may take up a bit more storage space. However, I could see the 2.5" gauge being difficult to read in low light areas or if someone’s eyes are not as good as they once where. Review these products and your particular needs and get yours today at
Tire Rack.
Don't forget about them! They may be tucked away deep inside your trunk or some other discreet location out of sight and out of mind, but
Tire Rack is here today to remind you that spare tire pressure is as important as the pressure in your everyday tires. Like a balloon a few days after the party, air inside your spare diminishes over time—essentially it goes flat, slowly but surely. And that's never a good thing when you rely on your spare when you actually get a flat tire. To make sure you're never left stranded with a double flat, we recommend you check your spare once a month to make sure it is ready for action. (
Read more.)
Don't have a gauge? Check out our newest gauges from
Intercomp. We think you'll find them to be quite handy, thanks to a swivel nozzle and a glow-in-the-dark face. Or,
click here to see our entire list of gauges.
Regardless, share the air with that spare!
Tires, the most important safety item and the most taken for granted part of your car. We have them, we ignore them, we wonder, why does the tire vibrate? Why do I have a flat? And it always happens when it's raining, or so it seems.
Typically all bad situations are the result of lack of simple
maintenance. Here are the basics:
- Your tires' air pressure should be checked every couple of weeks. It's simple and you can find a variety of air pressure gauges at Tire Rack. The Intercomp 2.5" Deluxe Air Pressure Gauge is very simple to operate and read.
- Tires should be rotated every 6,000 miles and periodicly inspected for anything abnormal. This can make a big difference.
- Since most vehicles require oil changes at 3,000 mile intervals, having the tires rotated every other oil change can put you on a very simple schedule.
- Determining how much tread you have left on your tire can be checked by using the old tried and true method of sticking a penny with Lincoln's head upside down in the tread area. If you see all of his head, it's time to replace your tires. Or, for a more technical method, use the Dill Digital Tread Depth Gauge to get your exact depth at a glance.
HAPPY MOTORING!!!
A simple
coin can check your tread depth, but the results—unless you know exactly what you're doing—can certainly vary. And the coin test is not meant to replace real measurements. Invest that loose change into a product that guarantees good results.
The
Dill® Digital Tread Depth Gauge is only $19, and can be used to
measure brake shoe and pad wear as well. Tread depth is displayed on an easy-to-read digital screen, and readings can be taken quickly and accurately whenever and wherever.
Click here to see all the air and tread depth gauges in
Tire Rack's inventory of aftermarket
accessories.
New to our
tire pressure and
accessory line-up is
Intercomp's Deluxe Air Pressure Gauge. Available in two sizes,
2.5" and
4.0".
- Reads 0-60 psi in 1 psi increments
- High quality thumb-operated bleeder for quick adjustments
- Swivel nozzle on a 17" Goodyear hose allows for easy access from any angle
- Glow-in-the-dark face offers high visibility with major and minor graduation marks
Being the designated car guy in the family, I always get asked to "check my tire pressure," from friends and family. I usually answer "not right now" not because I'm a mean guy but because the question comes usually a couple hours after they arrive.
I'll explain that I'm really a nice guy and would be happy to check their tire pressure but we need to wait until the morning or at least give the tires enough time to cool down to their ambient temperature. Sometimes i get a puzzled look from them thinking I just want to put it off a little longer and hope they forget about it. That's when I'll bust out the chemistry, and remind them of the basic gas laws we all forgot from high school.
A little gas law is all that is needed to justify my apparent laziness. "Pv=nRT" I tell them. As they were driving to my house the deflection of the tire created heat and since the tires volume is consistent as well as the mass of air, then the pressure must have gone up. Basically the
car manufacturer's recommendation in the door sill is a "cold pressure recommendation" so we can't check it right after a drive.
We need to wait until the tire's air temperature is the same as the outside to get a correct air pressure setting. The next morning when I bring out an Intercomp
4" Deluxe Air Pressure Gauge they can rest assured their tires will be operating at the correct pressure on the drive home.
Tire Rack is frequently asked the question...What pressure setting should I use on my new tires?
The correct pressure settings for your vehicle can be referenced in the owner's manual or on the placard found inside the drivers door jamb. The information will provide a recommended cold temperature setting that is to be used regardless of the tire size or manufacturer as long as it is properly load rated for your vehicle. The tire itself, has a maximum psi that is not to be exceeded on a cold inflation reading. It is always best to check tire pressures first thing in the morning before driving the vehicle. This is the point when you will find the truest reads and can maximize the pressure settings on all corners of the vehicle
Maintaining the correct tire inflation rates will help maximize tire performance and fuel economy, which allows drivers to experience optimal comfort, durability and performance designed to match the needs of their vehicle.
Might I recommend a few useful air gauges by Accutire that are helpful in maintaining proper tire inflation settings:
Digital Set Point Programmable Air Gauge with Light
Digital Pencil Air Gauge with Tread Depth Gauge
ABS Coated Air Gauge with Digital Display
Are you replacing your run-flat tires with conventional tires and looking for an option to a full-size or compact spare? Look no further, just check out the
Continental ContiComfortKit available at
Tire Rack.
The Continental tire company has developed this product specifically for this application. The
Continental ContiComfortKit is a powerful, high-volume, 12-volt air compressor, with an integral pressure gauge and a latex liquid tire sealant packaged in a compact (7"X9.5"X3.7"), lightweight (5 pounds) unit that is easy to store. When used, you can drive up to 125 miles on the temporary repair at speeds up to 50 miles per hour and the best part is if the tire can be repaired, it can be returned to normal service once repaired.
Features include:
• Braided air hose
• Threaded hose end (more secure than push-on, thumb-lock inflation head)
• 15-foot power cord
• Lighted pressure gauge
• Low-intensity LED supplemental work light
See how it works -
short video.
For more information visit the
Tire Rack.
