What Causes Low Tire Pressure in the Summer? 

Tire pressure is paramount to safety when it comes to driving a car. Low tire pressure in one or more tires can be dangerous, causing there to be less traction. It also causes the tires to wear out more quickly and can even mess with your mileage, costing you more at the gas pump. For all these reasons, staying aware of your tire pressure is important.

But car maintenance isn’t the same all year round. Heat and cold affect cars and their tires differently. And your car and tire cleaning needs could be very different between the seasons.

How Heat Affects Tire Pressure

As the temperature rises, your tire pressure also rises. For about every 10 degrees fahrenheit the temperature rises, your tire pressure will increase by one PSI. This can result in a pretty drastic change, especially if it’s cold at night where you live. This also means that your tire pressure will change throughout the day. 

Routinely Inspect Your Tires

Temperature is not the only thing that affects your tire pressure. Routine inspection is a vital part of tire health. You should periodically check your tires for things like leaks and debris stuck in the treads. People generally spend more time driving in the summer, which makes it easy to fall behind on a maintenance schedule. 

It’s important to keep yourself prepared for tire inspection on road trips as well. Make sure you always have a gauge in your car. We’ve got some tips on what other essentials to bring on a road trip to ensure your car is taken care of.

What Should Your Tire Pressure Be in the Summer 

All car manufacturers have specific recommended tire pressure. You can usually find this on the inside of your driver’s side door, where you would also look for the VIN number. Ideally, your car should be at this pressure. 

To get the most accurate reading, it’s recommended that you check your tire pressure in the morning before the car has driven and the tires have been heated up. And you should check this no less than once a month. Your tire loses a little pressure every day. We’ve got some additional tips about tire pressure changes here.

Keeping your tires at the right pressure will improve your driving experience. The car will be easier to handle and the fuel economy will be much better if your tire pressure is correct. Less tire contact on the road means better driving.

Put Away Your Snow Tires 

And don’t forget to take your winter tires off when it starts to warm up outside. All-season or summer tires have the right makeup to handle hot roads and changing pressure. To learn more about winter tires, check out our blog. Don’t know what kind of tires you need for your climate? We’ve got tips on that too!