Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Certification/Tire label or Tire and Loading
Information label shows the correct inflation pressures
for your tires when they're cold. "Cold" means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than 1 mile (1.6 km). See Loading Your
Vehicle on page 4-47.
Notice: Don't let anyone tell you that underinflation
or overinflation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underinflation), you can get
the following:
•
Too much flexing
•
Too much heat
•
Tire overloading
•
Bad wear
•
Bad handling
•
Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you
can get the following:
•
Unusual wear
•
Bad handling
•
Rough ride
•
Needless damage from road hazards
5-68
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Also, check the tire pressure of the compact spare tire.
It should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can't tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they're underinflated.
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire inflation pressure is low,
add air until you reach the recommended pressure
on the Certification/Tire label or the Tire and Loading
Information label.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.