Importance of Tire Pressure
You should check your tire pressure monthly at a minimum. Proper tire pressure prolongs the life of your tires. Check the pressure in the morning before driving on them.
Tires that are not at the correct air pressure will also increase the rolling resistance (the friction that occurs when an object rolls) of the vehicle. Under-inflated tires, for example, result in increased rolling resistance and therefore require more energy (or fuel) to move the vehicle, which negatively impacts fuel economy. According to the Department of Energy, keeping tires inflated properly improves fuel economy by approximately 3.3 percent. Tires that are over-inflated result in reduced levels of handling performance because less rubber is in contact with the road.Improper inflation puts unnecessary stress on your tires and can result in excessive or uneven wear. When this happens, it compromises the ability of the tires to perform, and often results in premature tire wear-and the necessity to replace them sooner than expected. Tires with excessive or uneven tread wear can also lead to an accident.