How many times have you heard of a fatal car wreck that was a result of a blown tire? Now, let’s wonder how many these incidences could have been avoided if the tire pressure had been monitored properly? More than we want to know.
Simply put, failure to maintain right tire pressure on a consistent basis may result in faster tire wear, tire failures and loss of control, thus resulting in possible property damage, serious injuries and death.
There are namely, three different situations when it comes to your tire pressure: The correct pressure, the under inflation and the over inflation.
Some Useful Information Relating To Tire Pressures
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that underinflated tires resulted in 300,000 accidents per year in American alone.
• Surveys have found that many vehicles (about 4 out of 5 or 80%) routinely have at least one underinflated tire.
• It is estimated that, on average, Americans wasted two million gallons of gas each year because of underinflated tires (more energy required to move vehicles with underinflated tires).
• A survey has shown that a relatively high percentage (>50%) of people have mistakenly believed that the correct pressure is listed on the tire sidewall.
Over-inflating your tires will give you a bouncy ride and an ill-handling car, while under-inflated tires can develop premature wear from increased friction. Either way, not having your tires at their recommended pressure will negatively affect tire wear and vehicle performance.
How do I find the correct tire pressure for my car?
There’s a pressure rating on the tires themselves, but your Honda door has a different pressure number. Which one is correct? How many psi should I have in my tires?
Having the correct tire pressure is extremely important for getting good gas mileage and the most life out of your tires. Your Honda has a specific tire pressure that will give the best gas mileage, handling and tire life for that car, and it’s written right on the door of your Honda. That’s the one you should follow when filling up.
On newer Hondas, the recommended pressure is listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If there’s no sticker on the door, you can find the specs in your owner’s manual. Most passenger cars will recommend 32 to 35 psi in the tires when they’re cold. The reason you check them cold is that as tires roll along the road, friction between them and the road generates heat, increasing tire pressure. For the most consistent tire-pressure reading, make sure the car has been sitting overnight, or at least has been parked for a few hours.
Do not inflate your tires to the pressure listed on the tire itself. That number is the maximum pressure the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for the vehicle. Tricky, huh? Go by the Honda Manual when in doubt.
Hopefully, you’re going to go check your tire pressure tomorrow morning.
Be Safe! From your friends at
Honda Mall of Georgia.
