The Tire Pressure Guide

nitrogen, pressure, tire - 25/01/2021

Did you know that the air pressure in your tires supports 95% of your vehicle?

It is therefore recommended that you check your tire pressure monthly for your safety and your passengers, especially when you go on a long road trip.

You never know how pieces or potholes on the road can affect the condition of your tires.

So by taking your tire pressure regularly, you can avoid unpleasant surprises such as an inconspicuous air leak or an unexpected flat tire.

With the big changes in winter temperatures that can drop from 10 to 30 degrees, your tires lose an average of 2 PSI (tires lose 1 PSI for every 5 degrees Celsius decrease). This can affect driving performance if your tire pressure was already low before the temperature change.

Driving with under-inflated tires can be risky and fuel consumption can increase.

An under-inflated tire

It makes driving a vehicle very unstable, which is dangerous for your safety.

A large portion of the tire hits the road as it deflates, increasing friction and making braking less effective. There is therefore a high risk of a flat or blowout due to overheating of the tire, which increases fuel consumption and loss of grip. Note that the life of your tire will be shortened with an under-inflated tire.

An over-inflated tire

It causes accelerated wear since the tire rolls only on the center portion of its tread. This results in a deformation of the tire that adheres less well to the ground, causing handling problems.

The vehicle responds poorly to change in direction and stops are more difficult to make. The life of the tire is also shortened.

To maintain optimal air pressure, simply inflate your tires cold early in the morning before you leave or after you've rested your vehicle for a few hours.

A warm tire will only increase air pressure. To take the air pressure, you need an air pressure gauge.

⚠️ WARNING

Please note that the maximum pressure (between 30 and 35 PSI) written on the sidewall of your tire is not the recommended air pressure.

You can find the air pressure recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle on the label on the inside driver's door, fuel filler door or in the driver's manual.

If your tires are over-inflated, let some air out until the gauge reads the recommended pressure.
If your tires are under-inflated, add air to your tires to reach the manufacturer's recommended pressure.

⚠️ Psst... Don't forget to check your spare tire! It can deflate even when not in use!

For vehicles equipped with TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems), you don't have to worry about taking your tire pressure regularly since your vehicle's tires have been programmed to tell you when there is under- or over-inflation!

When a tire is deflated or over-inflated, you will be alerted by a light in your dashboard when the vehicle is in motion.

If the warning light appears, please check the condition of your tires with the tire pressure gauge and rely on the air pressure recommended by the manufacturer to adjust the pressure to your tire.

Once the tire is at the correct air pressure, the TPMS light should go out on your dashboard.

Have you thought about using nitrogen in your tires?

Nitrogen inflation provides a more stable pressure in your tires than a compressed air tire in all weather conditions, reducing the risk of a tire being under-inflated in cold winter weather and over-inflated in hot weather.

However, if a tire deflates, you will need to have your tire re-inflated with nitrogen at your garage. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated with a minimum of 95% nitrogen. The cost of a tire inflated with nitrogen varies between $4 and $6.

Finally, there are many advantages to choose nitrogen inflation: