How Often Should You Check Your Air Pressure?

Shopping used cars in Cincinnati is just one way to keep your costs of car ownership down. You can choose from a wide variety of quality vehicles, and you can save thousands of dollars off what you would pay new. However, buying is just the first step. Then you need to maintain your car to keep it in top shape and to reduce the risk of repairs (which can be quite costly).

One of the easiest car maintenance tasks is checking the air pressure in your tires. If the air pressure is

low, the tires won’t perform as effectively, which can cost you fuel efficiency, cause your engine to work harder (and wear down faster), and even contribute to safety issues on the road. Without the right pressure in your tires, you could lose control on the road — especially in harsh conditions like rain — or even get a flat tire.

Typically, you need to check your air pressure about once a week. The pressure may rise or fall significantly without causing any change to the appearance of the tire, so it is important that you check the pressure with a tire gauge and not do it by sight or feel. By the time your tires have lost enough pressure to be noticeable by sight or feel, you have entered dangerous territory.

You may need to check your tire pressure more often in the colder months, since contraction of the air can cause the pressure to fall. It is also a good idea to always check your air pressure before you head out on a long trip, and again once or twice during the trip (depending on how much distance you cover).

Cars produced after 2007 should have a tire pressure monitoring system installed. However, that system may not always be reliable (all electronic components can malfunction or need repair). Therefore, it is important that you continue your weekly checks.

Of course, if you buy older used cars in Cincinnati, the system may not be installed at all. It’s always safer to do the manual checks yourself.

Buying used cars in Cincinnati should be just the start of a long ownership experience that helps you save money. Make sure you follow all recommended maintenance to keep your car happy and healthy for a long time to come.