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tire pressure for your vehicle is referred to as the
"recommended cold inflation pressure." (As you will read
below, it is difficult to obtain the recommended tire
pressure if your tires are not cold.)
Because tires are designed to be used on more than one
type of vehicle, tire manufacturers list the "maximum
permissible inflation pressure" on the tire sidewall. This
number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should
ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions.
Checking Tire Pressure
It is important to check your vehicle's tire pressure at
least once a month for the following reasons:
•
Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
•
Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a
pothole or other object or if you strike the curb
when parking.
•
With radial tires, it is usually not possible to
determine underinflation by visual inspection.
For convenience, purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep
in your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at tire
dealerships, auto supply stores, and other retail outlets.
The recommended tire inflation pressure that vehicle
manufacturers provide reflects the proper psi when a tire
is cold. The term cold does not relate to the outside
temperature. Rather, a cold tire is one that has not been
driven on for at least three hours.
When you drive, your tires get warmer, causing the air
pressure within them to increase. Therefore, to get an
accurate tire pressure reading, you must measure tire
pressure when the tires are cold or compensate for the
extra pressure in warm tires.
Steps For Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure
1. Locate the recommended tire pressure on the vehi-
cle's tire information placard, certification label, or
in the owner's manual.
2. Record the tire pressure of all tires.
3. If the tire pressure is too high in any of the tires,
slowly release air by gently pressing on the tire
valve stem with the edge of your tire gauge until
you get to the correct pressure.
4. If the tire pressure is too low, note the difference
between the measured tire pressure and the cor-
rect tire pressure. These "missing" pounds of pres-
sure are what you will need to add.
5. At a service station, add the missing pounds of air
pressure to each tire that is underinflated.
6. Check all the tires to make sure they have the
same air pressure (except in cases in which the
front and rear tires are supposed to have different
amounts of pressure).
If you have been driving your vehicle and think that a tire
is underinflated, fill it to the recommended cold inflation
pressure indicated on your vehicle's tire information
Owner's Manual for Mobile Generator Sets
NHTSA Trailer Equipment Requirements
placard or certification label. While your tire may still be
slightly underinflated due to the extra pounds of pressure
in the warm tire, it is after to drive with air pressure that is
slightly
lower
than
recommended cold inflation pressure than to drive with a
significantly underinflated tire. Since this is a temporary
fix, don't forget to recheck and adjust the tire's pressure
when you can obtain a cold reading.
Tire Size
To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the
same size as the vehicle's original tires or another size
recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the tire
information placard, the owner's manual, or the sidewall
of the tire you are replacing to find this information. If you
have any doubt about the correct size to choose, consult
with the tire dealer.
Tire Tread
The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction
that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding,
especially when the road is wet or icy. In general, tires
are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is
worn down to 1/16 of an inch. Tires have built-in
treadwear indicators that let you know when it is time to
replace your tires. These indicators are raised sections
spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves.
When they appear "even" with the outside of the tread, it
is time to replace your tires. Another method for checking
tread depth is to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln's
head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top
of Lincoln's head, you are ready for new tires.
Tire Balance And Wheel Alignment
To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when a tire
rotates, the tire must be properly balanced. This balance
is achieved by positioning weights on the wheel to
counterbalance heavy spots on the wheel-and-tire
assembly. A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the
wheels so that they are positioned correctly relative to the
vehicle's frame. These adjustments require special
equipment and should be performed by a qualified
technician.
Tire Repair
The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for
the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that
surrounds the puncture hole. Punctures through the tread
can be repaired if they are not too large, but punctures to
the sidewall should not be repaired. Tires must be
removed from the rim to be properly inspected before
being plugged and patched.
Tire Fundamentals
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place
standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and describes the fundamental
the
vehicle
manufacturer's
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