Vehicle Tire Safety Tips for Drivers
45° Fahrenheit is the temperature where you can begin to see your breath. It is also the stage when summer and all-season tires on your car can start to lose traction and grip. When the temperature drops, the driver should think about winter tires. It does not matter if you are planning a ride thru the country or simply on commute to or from work, exposing your vehicle’s tires to cold weather can lead to potential trouble on the road.
Snow and ice are usually considered as entertainment, but they can be dangerous for driving. Special winter tires are designed for cold-weather conditions. They deliver better starting, handling and emergency stops in temperatures 45° Fahrenheit and below. The specific feature of these tires is that they remain pliable and soft in this weather. You should take into consideration that it is advisable to keep winter tires 3-5 PSI higher than recommended pressure for summer or all-season tires. It is much easier to get the right tire pressure with PROW’s portable air compressor than with a manual tire pump. For your convenience we have air compressor for car models that come with analogue tire gauges and LCD displays, AC and DC power cords which make the use of the tire inflator possible in a garage or directly from your vehicle’s cigarette lighter plug. Moreover, PROW tire pumps are available with a pre-set/auto shut-off function which reduces this procedure to pressing just a few buttons. Accurate pressure is extremely important in wintertime.
Tires are more efficient at radiating heat in lower ambient temperatures. They exude less hot pressure and as a result run cooler. In such a case, higher tire pressure (merely 3-5 PSI) helps to offset reduced tire pressure resulting from diminished level of accumulated heat.
In addition, the tire pressure is intended to be measured when tires are cold. This means that it should be checked in the morning before you drive and before ambient temperatures go up when the sun rises. Since air is a gas, it expands when heated and contracts when cooled. The rule of thumb is for every 10° Fahrenheit change in air temperature, your tire’s inflation pressure will change by about 1 PSI (up with higher temperatures and down with lower). That is why when you are inflating a tire with your air compressor in the garage it is highly recommended to make the pressure 3-5 PSI higher. This boost helps offset the reduced tire pressures associated with the conditions in which the tire pressure is typically measured.
To help to stay safe on the road in winter, we recommend following these tire safety tips:
Get ready beforehand. It is very important to replace all of your vehicle’s all-season tires in case you regularly drive in temperatures 45° Fahrenheit or below on a daily basis, no matter whether it is snowy or not.
Using your tire inflator, make your tire pressure 3-5 PSI higher to increase the stability and help offset the reduction in handling.
Mind your numbers. Check your tires at least once a month to sustain the appropriate pressure level.
