I'm a 56 year old female. My husband passed away and had always taken care of vehicles. I am now learning important things to know like this. Thank you.
I always have a hard time getting the thingy on the tire thingy and it seems like air leaks out and I wonder if I am even getting any air in or wasting my $2
@@kaytriott the part we use is called and air chuck, and the part on the tire is the valve stem . Always best to buy a pressure gauge from a parts store they are only a few dollars. 😊
THANK YOU. Been arguing with a couple of the men in my life about this for YEARS. They won't listen to a "girl," but now I can point them to a video by a car dude and maybe I'll get through to them.
On most tires it says *maximum pressure.* It does not say normal operating pressure. That maximum pressure is the pressure above which there is a significant risk that the tire will blow off the rim and cause you to lose control of the vehicle if you fill it above that pressure when the tire is cold and then if you run the vehicle at highway speeds long enough to heat the tire up a lot.
My next door neighbor bought new tires on sale for his truck early last spring and had the tire shop mount & balance them for him. He bought E rated 10ply tires. (nice tires) The tire shop employees told him they don't look at the tire pressure rating on the tire they look at the sticker on the door. They had inflated his new tires to 40 psi. The tires are rated for 80 psi max. 60 psi being the minimum. I pointed it out to him because the tires looked under inflated and if he expected to get decent life out of them, he had better read the tires inflation recommendation on the tires themselves. 50 year mech/tec.
Well duh if you changing from factory recommended tires to E rated or heavy duty you should already know this the vehicle manufacturer didn't equip your F150 with E rated tires cuz they put them on the F350s 450s and up so i wonder why?
Here’s a tip: the paid timer gas station air supplies have you racing around your vehicle to beat the clock. Park appropriately, take off all valve covers, and quickly slightly overinflated each tire. Don’t waste time checking pressures while pump is giving you air. Then use a quality tire gauge with air bleeder button (I like Intercomp brand and keep one in each truck) and gently bleed each down to your exact desired pressure.
Good idea if one must pay for air. I refuse. Discount/America's Tire will air you up for free, just drive up.. And/or buy a reliable inflator, use it at home.
@@recoveringsoul755 No, DT/AT do not use/sell N2, never have. They use the good old fashioned and 'free'; 78%N2 air. Bought tires there since early 2000s, been very satisfied. Also, free proper (USTMA) (wheel and tire off, inside tire plug-patch w/rebalance) puncture repair to all, no purchase needed. So air up free, and keep a good gauge in trunk or glove box, check occasionally.
This is great video My local Costco puts nitrogen in tires when you buy from them. Last year they installed brand new two filling stations and guess what it’s nitrogen. If you have local Costco check you can get free nitrogen.
I have found that the pressure on the sticker is too low and is designed for a soft ride. I always got too much wear on the outside of the treads when using the sticker pressure. Now I use the average of the sticker pressure and the max presure on the sidewall. If the sticker says 32 and the max is 44, I use 38. I get a firmer ride with better handling, the tires wear evenly, and I get 1-2 MPG better gas milage.
I'm not saying you're wrong, your experience could be entirely true. However, auto manufacturers have been trying everything for the last 45 years to increase fuel mileage. If a simple increase in tire pressure could do that, they'd absolutely be recommending the max safe pressure from the factory. With that being said, an unbiased test of different tire pressures with the factory tires on a new vehicle would be very interesting.
G'day mate, you are absolutely correct!! The best way to decide what tyre pressure to run your tyres at is to monitor the wear on the tread of the tyre. I run about 10 PSI over the sticker pressures and in winter just a little bit more again to compensate for the cold. I get fantastic mileage and very good wear out of my tires. Even the guys in the industry give you the wrong advice and the pressures are always too low causing the tyres shoulders to wear out very quickly, especially with modern rounded shoulder tyres anyway. I loved your comment well done on knowing to run your tyres at much higher pressures.
It all depends on how you load the car. For somebody who drives alone a lot, the recommended pressure might be a bit too high. For somebody constantly driving with a full trunk and 4 or 5 passengers, or a fully loaded pickup truck most of the time, the recommended pressure might be a bit low. If your tires are wearing evenly and you’re not having control issues when the tires warm up, you’re probably just fine.
Growing up i was always told to make sure that you have the right type of air in the tires. It was one or the other summer / winter. That only lasted till I started driving and in auto shop. Man was I gullible. Good on you for informing others👍.
I bought my own air compressor and battery jumper for my Christmas present to myself. Now I can fill up my own tires in my driveway and don’t have to find a machine that’s working ✅
Great tips. I filled the tires to the max once (50psi) to see what would happen. It was on a Beetle, and it was terrifying. It felt like trying to drive a rubber ball down the road.
I had a flat repaired not long ago and the shop put 42psi in (I run 35) which I knew right away because my KIA has a tpws that shows actual air pressure in each tire pretty much in real time. And these are guys who are supposed to know what they’re doing.
Good video, Lou......many people just don't realize how essential correctly inflated tires are to safe driving. The only thing I would emphasize, (as other commenters have) is to BUY A GOOD QUALITY AIR GUAGE for every car you own. Keep it in the glove box. Also get a 12 Volt air pump and keep it in the trunk. You rarely have tire problems in the parking lot of a tire store......it always happens at the WORST time or situation imaginable....BE PREPARED. Thanks for posting this.
@@tomsnow51 Of course. I was only pointing out the tire related stuff. I always have a spare tire and jack, cheater bar for loosening lug nuts, flashlight, basic tools, blanket and emergency drinking water, spare key, towel, (remember the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy) etc. As a former Boy Scout, I always try to "Be Prepared". 😀
Well done. Would add three things; 1) you can drive up to most tire shops and they'll check and correct tire pressure in each tire for free. You don't have to get out of the car, you don't need an appointment, and it's generally done in real time. 2) Tires should be checked at least once a month because all tires leak air. 3) If the outside temp changes by 40 or more degrees for an extended period of time, you'll need to correct the air pressure (most of us don't have nitrogen filled tires). Many thanks for the great vid!
No way some jackleg Auto shop guy is gonna drop what he's doing to check your tires, your not money and are a waste of time, if some long Legged pretty Asian babe pulls up he will check her tires and drop the Monkey wrench on his toes to get to her car.
I was building, grounds, vehicle maintenance supervisor for 27 years and had aired up lots of tires you are spot on, one day a lady staff member ask me to check her tires and air them up because she was afraid they might blow up, I gave her the exact same advice as you just stated, and I had her do two tires herself wile I watched, they wear all really low , later she came back and said how much better her car drove and she was no longer afraid, this was at a behavioral healthcare, so I helped a therapist get over her fear of airing up tires. I could drive by the fleet of cars an see one leaning and know I had a possible flat.
Thank you for the clarification. A tire center has been putting 40# in my tires for the past two years(changing regular to winter tires), yet the label on the door frame says 30#. Their response when I questioned them, "to be on the safe side we put 40#." Not this year. I told them to follow what was listed on the door frame. Thank you again.
Heres the problem, if you were to ask them to clarify why its safer, they would fumble for the answer. how do we know better than the company that directs us on what to do? of course there are instances where you need more or less, but those are far and few between. You are welcome.
"To be on the safe side." ❓ I have no idea what that means. A couple/few psi over placard ok, 10 psi, not so much. Good move to tell them to go with door frame psi.
Actually, if they overinflate, to a 'reasonable' degree, that's doing me a favor - at the time I took the car in for oil, whatever. The next morning, I can just bleed the tires down to door frame sticker pressures with my gauge for that purpose. (If only everybody know this - not all garages, or even car dealer service bays, bother to check for the correct tire pressure specific to each vehicle they service.)
I always keep a tire pressure gauge in the glovebox and an air pump in trunk. I've also found 32psi to be a pretty safe bet for topping up a vehicle you are unfamiliar with. I've helped plenty of people running around with 15psi in their tires. It's kinda scary thinking about how many car are driving highway speeds on under inflated tires
There's plenty of folks out there running around with 35psi or whatever in their tires and wearing a strip down the middle of the tire. That's bad personal economics. You got it, guy
I have found, through many years of airing-up my own tires, that 30-32psi gives me the most even tread wear. That, plus rotation, will give you maximum life.
I mainly keep a little 12v compressor in the trunk just in case I have to use my spare tire. I check the psi a couple times a year but these cheapo temporary spares leak down fast compared to real tires.
Nice video. I always follow the sticker in the driver door jam. I used to go by the tire’s max pressure then realized the auto manufacturers put those stickers on the car for good reason and probably should follow their instructions on how to properly maintain my tires.
Thanks for the nice comments, the sticker is the guideline and what the manual and manufacturers recommended. Sure theres cases youll need more pressure but there is no magic answer. I was tryin to raise awareness of the sticker. Thanks for watching!
As a 12 year tire tech veteran I can confirm every word of this video is correct and accurate. Now please good sir master tech, teach them to adjust their side view mirrors. I'd guess more than 90% of the vehicles I pull in have less than half the view they should have for safe driving.
How fast the tire inflates is directly related to what pressure your air tank regulator is set on. Filling a tire with 40 psi coming through the air hose takes a bit longer than if the regulator is set up to 90 psi. Use a good pressure gauge and check your pressure often when filling them up. Just drive up to Discount Tire, they check it for free. They may not make the pressure perfect but it's probably a lot better than 95% of the tires on the road right now.
When I serviced aircraft tires, taking the up to 250 psi, we would use 500 psi line pressure. It would still take time to raise the pressure five pounds.
Had replacement tires installed at Discount Tire. Something felt odd while driving down the freeway. Got home and checked the pressure after the tires got to ambient. They were all spot on at max rated pressure. Maybe new guy?
It’s doesn’t matter when you inflate them because the pressure fluctuates throughout the day based on air temperature and heat from usage. Every change of 10 degrees in air temperature causes your tire pressure to fluctuate 1-2 psi. So if you inflate them before sunrise, then they’re over-inflated at noon. You want to inflate the tires during the time of day that you mostly drive, which likely isn’t before sunrise. And rather than the coolest part of the day, or the hottest part of the day, it’s best to inflate them at the average temperature of the day/week. So if the temperature is between 60-80F that day/week, then inflate them at 70F, which might be 10AM or 6PM, that way you have the least variance. Of course you can still inflate them at whatever time of day is convenient for you, just be sure the tires are cold, and adjust the air pressure based on the temperature you’re inflating them at. So if you inflate them at 60F, but the average temperature for the day/week is 70F, then under inflate them by 1-2 psi. If you’re driving through Death Valley at high noon in the middle of summer, adjust the air pressure for that temperature. Give it a try. Since you already inflate your tires before sunrise, check the air pressure at the hottest time of the day. It may not be much on a day that only fluctuates 10-20F, but on a day that fluctuates 20-40F it could make a big difference.
@@LuckyCharms777 i believe matt means is not Ambient temp,is the tires that get hit by direct sunlight, on my trailer i see as much as 3 psi difference from the tire on the shade side vs the sun side. But when checked during the night they are even. this is without using the trailer for weeks
@@mandytuning Oh, okay, thanks for letting me know, that’s not something that I’ve even considered before. It’s interesting that sunlight caused such a difference in air pressure, but it only makes sense especially considering how hot it can make a vehicle interior. I guess I need to start checking air pressure at night too, and adjust according to expected daytime temperatures. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Good advice, Lou. You made some points that a lot of other YT'ers miss. Couple things to add to what you say; Nitrogen is fairly misunderstood outside of mining and industrial uses. The manufacturer sets "cold air pressure" so it is really a few pounds lower than where the tire will operate. So, either use dried air or go the few pounds higher with nitrogen. The nitrogen is really beneficial in large industrial/mining tires due to the fact that it wont let a tire burn on the inside, if you hit a powerline with a boom or dump box for example. Pressure listed on the car can be fairly accurate but consider this. How many passengers does that take into account? How much luggage in the trunk? If a pickup, the numbers are usually with a max load in the bed, so no load, they are over-inflated. I've seen a lot of variation over my career in the tire biznis. Most of the time these will be close enough, but if you really want to maximize your tire life setting the pressure with the chalk method, or watching how the nipples wear off when the tire is new and adjusting appropriately will be the best way to go.
I always have a laugh at people on youtube giving advice on something they don't know or understand but you my friend are very knowledgable and very clear and to the point. I am willing to bet that your channel will grow greatly in the future when people realize that they can follow your instructions with good results!!! Great video!!
Agree, good straight forward video with accurate information...and this comment section is hilarious. Every self-taught TH-cam mechanic is here with some of the dumbest comments I have ever seen.
I agree. I recently purchased a 12 v. inflator to use on road trips. When I read the directions, it said it was accurate to w/i 10%. 3 lbs. + or minus is a lot of leeway for a passenger vehicle.
One tip I think he forgot to mention is to always check your tires after having your oil changed or after having your tires rotated/balanced since the tech checking the tires will usually pump too much air in them. Check them when they are cold though like the morning after the oil change.
I wouldn’t say “usually”, I haven’t changed my own oil in years and have only had an issue with over inflation once, but it did happen. I actually had to fight with the service tech to lower the pressure (he’d inflated the tire to the maximum PSI rating for the tire) back down to something closer to what the vehicle was rated for. He refused to do it until I called his boss out and his boss told him where to look for the correct pressure setting. I only found out because I read his service report, if I hadn’t done that I wouldn’t have known until I checked the tires myself in a month or so.
The tire pressure written on the vehicle is for the stock tires with the stock rims. If you have chosen to alter your vehicle, the air pressure may change, example there is often a difference between snow tires verus stock street tires versus low profile wide tires on taller rims.
yup, you go by the tire and what that manufacturer recommends not the door.. This doesn't mean go max psi the tire indicates.. If you go by the door sticker and the tires or rims are different could cause wear problems etc..
@@IbanezGuitarz87 Check with your tire dealer or tech! Many high performance tire manufacturers have recommendations for various upgrades. Back in my day B.F.Goodrich, for the T/A performance line, had a whole book on tire size and pressures and how to calculate the proper pressure for the application. caveat: "back in my day" I probably had to explain a couple of times a week the difference between a radial and a bias ply tire.
@@uview1 Nope. Nuance. No one said it was trash or wrong, just that there may be an alternative. The difference is seldom more than a couple of psi. The sticker is always safe for any of the tire sizes listed. Generally, the car manufacturers want a nice ride. Tire manufacturers want better wear and performance. Neither want to compromise safety. We were all talking about putting on a different size tire and wheel which changes the volume and therefore the load/pressure figure for that tire. Since you usually go up in size not down, for that case the sticker may be a little high. Worst that will do is wear out the center of the tread faster. It is not a safety problem.
I 've ran the max tire pressure stated on any of my vehicle tires for over 20 years. There is no question that improves the MPG, but it's a bit rougher ride.
5:48 I learned how to do this the hard way in 1976. I had been used to the automatic pumps in which the bell started ringing when it reached the pressure you set, but this time, I tried to fill my bike tire with a hose that had the gauge right on the valve. I pulled the valve and the gauge read zero, so I held it and it kept on reading zero. After maybe a minute, the tire blew up and I went deaf for the rest of the day. I realized just after that that the gauge was disabled when the lever was pulled, so you had to keep pumping and checking. I guess they are all that way because it's impossible to get a good reading while the air is flowing. Anyway, it's good it happened with just a bicycle tire; a car tire could have killed me.
You're lucky. A friend of the family worked in a small shop literally on the corner from where I lived. He was filling a tire and there was no restrictor/regulator on the line, and he hit the tire directly from the big tank, and in seconds the pressure rose so high that blew the tire to shreds. Pieces of bead nailed him in the head, took out one eye and part of his skull, he was permanently deaf in one ear and had permanent damage in the other. In short, he got f'ed up bigtime in a matter of seconds. Sister once asked me why her car was riding so rough. She filled one tire to over 60psi! I told her to gtf away from the tire and let it cool down overnight before even attempting anything. I had to go over the next day and (keeping in mind what happened to the guy above), approached the tire cautiously, unscrewed the cap, and (idiotic as it sounds now) had a metal garbage-can cover as a shield like Captain Freaking America protecting my face while I poked the schraeder valve with a twig and deflated the tire.
Wow, about that same time I rode my mom's bicycle with a friend. We stopped at a gas station on the way back and I tried putting air in her tire. The tire blew up for me too. I didn't go deaf, but had to walk the bike home. Luckily only a mile or two. Had no idea about tire psi.
Car companies engineer tire pressure into the suspension. If you play with the tire pressure you're playing with suspension dynamics. Just go by what the car sticker says.
Although they can't possible compensate for every tire design you might put on after the OEM. That said, the ideal likely doesn't deviate too far from the recommendation.
Great information, thank you so much for the lesson on counting the seconds. I always put too much air in my tire but now that I have this information it will help me do a better job.
This video could not have come at a better time. I’ve been driving around with flat tires for years. Now after this video, I can fill my tires air. Thank you!!!
I remember a good few years ago, my brother got his tyres changed and came to see me after. He said the ride was a bit rubbish since, I asked him whether he'd checked the tyre pressures and he said the fitter had inflated then to 45 or 47psi and stated that was the correct tyre pressure. He had 15in wheels with 185/55 on his Vauxhall Corsa and they're supposed to be around 30... I then explained that his tyre fitter was wrong (always fun explaining to people how 'professionals' are wrong) and that his overly inflated tyre would've had poor contact patch with the ground and been pretty dangerous in the rain. I also explained the door sticker at that point. So bad the misinformation out there, it's a good thing that at least the correct information provided by people like yourself can end up offering people some insight as it's clearly done here. 😊
@@jeanenviedapprendre Recently had to use my donut spare, which was never used or checked in 18 years, lol. I was surprised that it appeared inflated when I took it out, but the reality upon installing it and checking the air pressure after it looked low with weight on it, is that it had about 10psi compared to the 80psi it was supposed to have. Still, it was enough to get me to the gas station 1.5 miles away to fill it compared to the completely flat regular tire.
Thank you for bringing attention to a very misunderstood subjects. Emphasize adding 4 psi to the pressure recommended on the sticker. I could list many reasons for this but for now I just say "DO IT"!!! It is almost always better to run a tire over inflated vs under inflated. Coming from a 20 engineer for a tire company.
Really good info Lou for those unfamiliar with vehicle care. I also keep a very basic pen type gauge in the car mainly for consistency. Back in the 70's I had a after school /Saturday job as a bowser boy, engine check boy, tyre repair boy, floor sweeping boy. I learnt a lot about tyres and tube. So here's what is important about tyre pressure. 1 or 2 psi is not going to make cause much of an issue but 5 psi or greater is. Especially if the pressure in all 4 tyre's is different (yes it happens), unequal tyre pressures is a bigger issue than slightly high or low. As it can greatly affect handling and braking.
I didn't know to go by the door sticker until I heard rainman ray say it. He also explained that the number on the tire is different because it can fit different vehicles that may require different pressures, therefore as you stated, it is only the max pressure that the tire is rated for.
Do you feel the difference? I recently had high rear pressures (after towing+ a big load in the back) with no load -- lots of oversteer if I came into corners quick! Wet braking would be better too with correct pressures:)
@@nomercyinc6783 its there because vehicle chassis' have rated loads, and have certain weights. I can put the same tyres on a 1 tonne camry as a 2.5T hilux, provided they are rated to support the PSI both vehicles need, but if I put the hilux PSI rating on the camry, they will bulge in the middle and wear rapidly in the middle, while having reduced traction, and the other way around they will bulge on the edge, and the edges will wear rapidly and the tyre could even come off while cornering.
I have argued with tires shops so many times about this exact same topic. They always want to inflate to the tires' max, and I tell them don't go beyond what is listed inside my door. They never listen, and then I am standing there letting air out right in front of them before I leave. The tires I buy say 51psi max, but my truck says 35 psi. I typically run with slightly more than my door says, but only a few pounds. Like between 37 and 40. Usually 40 on the front where the engine weight is, and 37 on the rear with an empty bed. If I am hauling a lot of weight I add air to the rear tires, and if it's a heavy load I put the full max 51 psi. As soon as I am done hauling I let the air back out to 37.
Agree, that is unfortunate. What's also unfortunate, when those same "service people" and even average joe shown the correct psi, i.e., placard psi as Lou states, they still want to believe it's max pressure on tire sidewall. Just read some comments here.
Thank you for this advice about inflating your tyres with Nitrogen, I wasn't aware of that benefit! A lot of commercial companies and including the military paint the tyre pressure on the top of the wheel arch. On your civvie car you can paint the 'official instruction manual' tyre pressure on the tyre valve stem.
@@billmmckelvie5188 Sorry, I was imagining a scenario where only you inflated your tires. By the way, after watching this video, I came across a few articles concluding nitrogen in passenger vehicle tires is overrated. Apparently the NHTSA did a study, and so did Consumer Reports, that it doesn’t make a great difference in fuel consumption or tire life compared to just regularly checking air pressure. The greatest benefit for consumers is not needing to check tire air pressure regularly, although I recall hearing that blowouts can be less severe as well, but with proper tire pressure there are surely less blowouts. Between the cost to fill with nitrogen and the inconvenience of filling stations, there just wasn’t much of a benefit to make it worthwhile.
@@LuckyCharms777 I agree entirely with regular checking. In the UK we used to use a code word as an aide memoir for checking you car. P.O.W.E.R. Petrol, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber. I am old school were we used to have to check points, distributor cap and spark plugs, a slightly sandy residue on the plugs indicated a healthy engine Depending on your mileage your frequency of checking all your levels should be at least fortnightly (8,000 to 10,000 annual mileage) or weekly if you prefer. Fleet use has to be at the start of your shift due to our law. Thanks to integral tyre compressors everything is far more convenient than previously!
Good info. I would add one thing: it is best to use your own gauge, and the same gauge every time. It may not be perfectly accurate, but it will tell you how much air your tires are losing over a period of weeks. The gauge at a service station air pump may be even less accurate, and the accuracy of one gauge to another is likely to vary, so if you don't use the same pump with the same gauge at the same service station, every time you put air in your tires, the difference in accuracy between any 2 of gauges may fool you as to how fast your tires are losing air. Just use the same gauge. And don't drop it! A good bang may either change its accuracy or damage it so that it doesn't work at all. A cheap stick gauge is usually accurate enough. But use a gauge that shows your tires' pressure roughly in the middle of the gauge's range. That is where it is the most accurate. So for example if your tire is supposed to have 30 psi, use a gauge that goes from 10 psi to 50 or 60, and not a gauge that goes from 20 to 100.
@@tyrellhawkins9230 I'm not quite sure what ou are asking. By "so it won't get blow out" to you mean so that the tire won't get a blow-out? If that is what you mean then the answer is by using a tire pressure gauge to keep the tire at a correct pressure, and by using a tread gauge to make sure the tire has adequate tread you will minimize the chances that the tire will get a blow out but you can still get a blow out if, for example you strike a road hazard, say a "pot-hole" (a hole in the road) or a sharp object that cuts into the tread or the sidewall. If the tire has the correct pressure a pot hole is less likely to cause a blowout, or a flat. If there is plenty of tread left, road hazards are less likely to cause a flat or a blowout.
@@soilmanted thanks for information and I just saying that because I went to discount tire a few days ago and they told me that my REAR Back tire got 4 cracks in it and my Front passenger tire needs a whole another wheel and they said they can’t replace it. Then I went to Belle Tire for tires inspection and they were using a Tire Tread gauge and they told me that my rear back tire is number 4 and the other three were 6,6, and 8 and so I wanna know is having a good tire tread for safety when the tread is messed up… because I ordered one 2days ago
@@soilmanted thanks for information and I just saying that because I went to discount tire a few days ago and they told me that my REAR Back tire got 4 cracks in it and my Front passenger tire needs a whole another wheel and they said they can’t replace it. Then I went to Belle Tire for tires inspection and they were using a Tire Tread gauge and they told me that my rear back tire is number 4 and the other three were 6,6, and 8 and so I wanna know is having a good tire tread for safety when the tread is messed up… because I ordered one 2days ago
My dad taught me about the importance of tyre pressures over 60 years ago. My driving instructor taught me about the importance of correct tyre pressures. I always thought every driving instructor did the same. Obviously, they don't. And I always check my tyres every 2 weeks and use a foot pump to top up if necessary. Maybe some people think I'm sad, but hey, I don't care.
Not sad at all, my neighbors probably think I have holes in my tires or something, I check them every two weeks or so as well. It's a good idea to know all about your car, I mean we depend on it with our lives.
Almost every one has become reliant on warning lights. I recommend everyone check at every fuel fill but always as you walk to your car doesnt hurt to take a glance at your tires.
After years of driving different vehicles with different tires I judge by the sticker in the door jam first, then observing the wear. If wear is heavy in the center of the tire it's overinflated. Rule #1.
You're exactly correct in doing this. I've heard, but not confirmed, that over-inflating greatly shortens the life of the tire, but inflating to the door sticker cuts gas mileage. Of course if it's so over-inflated that it wears in the center then that would definitely shorten the longevity of the tire.
Thanks for the nitrogen explanation. Up til now I thought it was some kind of lame scam but it does make sense. I think aircraft may have the same in their tires but of course it’s 50 below and with far less ambient air pressure at 35,000 ft.
I always got a 12V air pump and gauge in my cars. Vacuum-cleaner/air-pump combo works quite nicely and has a built-in gauge that's remarkably accurate (within 1psi). Still, that small gauge is hard to read accurately, so I always also carry a nice big GH Meisner gauge to verify pressures all-around.
I have a 12v inflator but decided to get a battery operated one as well. One month after buying and the cost is long forgotten. The battery unit is perfect for topping off, and ther 12v is always in reserve if the battery runs low.
I go by the sticker on the door for the correct psi. For my Challenger is 32 psi on all four tires. I have a longacre analog tire pressure gauge that's extremely accurate and a portable hand held air inflator that works great.
Excellent information. I have always been told, any motor vehicles go by the placard on the door, and trailer tires go by the maximum pressure on the tire sidewall. I am affiliated with a national rental company, and they have years and billions of miles worth of experience in tire knowledge. So I go with what they've told me based on their knowledge.
Re trailers I think that's safe, but i bring them down a bit if I'm running it lightly loaded, as with little load full psi, and long roads, i get series wear in the centre of the tread.
rental car companies usually have fairly new cars with fairly new tires, so they may not actually have all that much experience after all. overinflating your tires may not cause a failure over say a year or say 10k miles, but it could still ride like shit and wear the center of the tire our prematurely.
What do you know the temperature dropped and my tire pressure gauge went on. Happened last year as well. I have been super nervous to put air in my tires myself so this video is proving to be very helpful and informative and I very much appreciate your time and knowledge of this particular area. Wish me luck 🤞🏻😅
I have found that slightly overinflating my tires delivers an extra 1-2 MPG. I originally had Michelin Primacy tires that said max pressure was 45 psi so I filled them to 38 psi. I have switched to Cross Climate with a max pressure of 50 psi so I am experimenting with 40 psi. I think that as long as you don't mind a slightly harsher ride and stay well under the max pressure rating that keeping tires a bit overinflated (using an accurate gauge to monitor it) can save you a buck or two each tank of gas.
I agree with all but one point. Your one second rule. If everyone has a shop compressor/tank at 150-175psig then your rule may work well. Tire size and volume of air in a tire is a factor. You still get a A+ from me. People should listen to you.
I find that you need to inquire of the tire manufacturer of the correct pressure when not replacing with OEM, they do differ. A harder or softer compound requires different pressure, especially if you swap Summer and Winter tires. You also need to monitor your pressures seasonally. There is a big difference in pressure with 90 degree ambient and 30 degree even if you do not switch compounds.
As a 20 year professional if someone asked me this question I would tell them USE THE PRESSURE PROVIDED ON THE DOOR LABEL. You are 100% incorrect, if the tire size is the same as the OEM, the pressure needs to be the same, regardless of tire compound.
@@robertkorn In a static world I would not be interested in arguing. However, the 'cold' PSI driving in Houston in the summer or Duluth in the winter has an operating PSI that would differ greatly, maybe 10 PSI. I know driving my sports car aggressively can alter the 'hot' PSI 4+ pounds. Maybe the recommended pressure is an average, but almost never optimal for longevity, MPG or performance.
@Dave blockhead read his comment next time before trying to answer. His response HAD NOTHING to do with your weather. He is strictly responding to the previous post regarding tire materials. Again learn to read. Its fundamental.
Not to beat a horse dead but, have a senior citizen neighbor I help out with vehicles from time to time. Her son firmly believes max tire pressure is the correct psi, and there's no changing his mind. I've been helping out with tire psi (placard) for her. Son came by yesterday and broke out the compressor. So, checked out tires on Civic today, placard 30psi. Cold morning psi, 44, 45, 48, and 49psi respectively. I was SMDH. I reduced all them to 32psi, mom owner wanted and knows what I did. At least taking air out easier than inflating. She has a Ranger truck, I didn't check yet, but can't wait to see tire pressure on those. /s
Using smaller compressors take more time. Usually the pancake and small cylinder types are about 3 seconds for 1 psi on a car tire. My pickup (275/7017) seems to be closer to 4 seconds. I’ve even had one max out putting in 70 psi with a load on the truck. Wish I had a compressor with more volume and pressure. Oh 1/4” fittings with 3/8” hose.
Trying to inflate 33in tyres with a cordless compressor takes like...60s per psi ;) The ARB twin air is good apparently. I love the Sherpa Big Air, but you pay for it, in weight too :)
Motorcycle rider here, I have my tire digital reader in the pocket and know by heart what psi my Ninja 300 needs - Front 28psi, Rear 32psi. Correct reading should be checked IN THE MORNING, before you start driving. Tires warm up AFTER you drive and pressure increases, so again check PSI in the morning before you start driving. You all ride safe ✌️
I had a flat and had the tire repaired by a shop that I was not familiar with. Later I noticed an odd shaking when I got on the interstate. I took it to my regular mechanic and he found that the tire had about a QUART of water in it.
I had a similar experience where I started to get odd shaking in the front end. Went to a great shop where they told me the tire patch that was done elsewhere had finally begun to bulge, giving me an actual bump on the tire itself.
The sticker on the inside of the door is a good recommendation if you keep the stock tire size. However, if you change wheels/tires and they are a different size from the factory size, that sticker isn’t the most accurate recommendation.
Accurate and informational , sometimes people dont know the simplest of things , not their fault they just assume , though some you tube mechanics spout utter dangerous s*ite .We overlanded a 3 tonne Land Rover Defender , in the deserts , tyre pressure was dictated by "as low as necessary , as high as possible" .Just to get you grip and out of difficulty , even ran at 1 bar not the road pressure of 3.5 bar .Always adjust the pressure when conditions changed or you destroy the tyre or worse
I got tired of trying to find a gas station air fill that wasn't spitting water out so I bought one of those portable tire fill air compressors and do it at home myself. Takes a little longer, but at least I get dry air. I don't rely on it's analog gauge, I simply slightly overfill, and then back off a little using a high end digital air gauge.
@@GrampalettasCamp Because there's no water condensation in the small unit, at least none that can be seen or felt. At the gas station you can literally see water spraying out by pressing the valve.
@@Joseph1NJ When you compress air into a tank, the water condenses out in that tank. It can be drained off or filtered out (or both). When you use a compressor with no tank and fill the tire directly, the water condenses out in the tire. The amount will depend on the humidity when you fill the tire.
You aren’t getting drier air. The condensation is simply happening in your tire rather than in the air hose. If you feel how hot your little compressor gets you will see why. It is hard to condense water out of hot air, but once the air cools in your tire, the water will condense inside your tire.
I always read the side of my tires. My last set max pressure 44, for the new set I put on last month says max pressure of 50, because they’re a different brand it takes different pressures
If you stick 51 psi max pressure tires on your car that has a sticker saying 29 to 34 psi, you're setting yourself up for premature tire wear and dangerous braking situations. There's a balance to be had.
I feel like an idiot not knowing there was a sticker that tells you the proper PSI...LOL. I've gone my whole life not knowing that. Thanks for the info.
Thats the only reason I posted this video., there are many other instances where pressure should be adjusted accordingly but this was meant as a means to share basic info on where to find the spec. Glad it was helpful. Lou
Yeah, but tire pressures are also in your owners manual. The door jamb sticker is a convenience for quick review, so if for some reason it's missing, the owners manual also says it.
I decided to make this video when a 60 year old told me he never knew about the sticker and when a teenager filled his moms tires till "they looked full" . The only goal of this video is to show that there is a specification . If you start with the specification you can adjust from there based on your needs and circumstances. Some would think this was common knowledge, but its not. Hence the video. I appreciate those that watch and hope you find my videos helpful. If you do not, well then that is ok too. I recently had a chat with a Julian from Tire Rack regarding tires and the manufacturers pressure specification, there is none, you are to go by the placard on the car. tiresvote.com/articles/everything-you-need-know-about-contact-patch/ Lou
One point that may be of interest is that higher tire pressures can reduce fuel consumption, sometimes significantly. The recommended tire pressure table often shows a higher pressure for freeway driving. I think it doesn't hurt to use this higher pressure all the time.
any safety conscious driver should check their tyres once a month and the oil and coolant level once a week also top up the windscreen washer fluid weekly. it doesn't take long.
Thank you so much. I take my small Navion motorcoach to a truck tire service center. They always want to do what he says trucker do...up the PSI from tire to max tire PSI. Example my sticker inside door way is 61 PSI dang he bumps up to 65 or 67. I so confused but I sure trust you. Thanks.
Great video, 1 part not mentioned I think would be important to speak on.. Can't you exceed the door sticker recommendation as long as you stay a bit under the tire max? For example, if the sticker recommendation is 35 PSI but your tire says Max 50 you could inflate to 40 without an issue to the tire. The ride may be slightly more stiff but rarely noticable and if your tires are wearing on both outer edges due to under inflation, this could also help it wear more evenly and lastly help with slightly better gas mileage although it's not very noticeable.
First off thanks for the nice comments. Secondly yes I can talk for hours on tires and pressure and all sorts of experiences, the goal was just to make aware of the sticker and an actual manufacturer recommendation. You are 100% correct on your statement.
@@MasterTechLou ok thanks for your reply and clarification. I know what you mean, I could talk for hours on stuff like this too lol. Thanks and take care.
You could do that, but your tyres won't last as long because they'll wear out down the centre of the tread, from being too rounded out, due to the excessive air pressure. There's usually a diagram of that in the vehicle's owner's manual.
Centre tread wear due to overinflation is not an issue with the radial tyres we've been using for the last 50 years. Not unless the tyres are very badly made, or the inflation pressure is dangerously high.
@@jublywubly please refer to what Mark said in the previous comment. It's almost exactly what I was going to reply to you about. I was not saying to overinflate by high levels, but 3-5 psi makes a difference when done properly. Also, some car manufacturers recommend a lower psi for comfort but that reduces the life of the tire as they will wear unevenly. Multiple mechanics have explained it the same to me which is why I mentioned it here to clarify options. After years of having inner edges worn prematurely I learned why it's not only an alignment that can cause this issue. It's your preference really but I hope this may help.
I like to add 10-20% more air pressure than the door spec. I find it is a little biased to comfort over fuel mileage and even wear. Remember tires leak about 1 psi per month so by going a little over you can not have to check as frequently and you stay in the sweet spot longer, especially if you are going from summer to winter.
I fill my tires with an electric pump that plugs into my car. The nitrogen that came with new tire installation at Costco helps but still I had to add air when the cold weather came. Also, one valve has a tiny leak so I’m adding plain air once a week until I get it fixed. Nitrogen is good if you don’t have time to check your tire pressure regularly but really, I’d rather keep on top of it and same the money.
No, water does not damage the inside of your tyre. The most obvious way to know that is because you have never seen an old tyre damaged from the inside by water, but they all have water in there throughout their lifetime, as it is not avoidable when putting air in there in the usual fashion, e.g. at home / at the gas station. The inside and the outside of the tyre are made of the same rubber, and the outside is exposed to water all the time and does not get damaged, or else we would not make tyres of rubber. The seals in your water pipes are made of rubber, the seal in your tyre valve is made of rubber, most water tightening seals are made of rubber, it is not reactive to water. The reason you do not want water in your tyre is pressure control. If a litre of water changes in to the gaseous phase, it expands to ca 1 cubic metre, i.e. a factor of 1,000. So having even a little bit of water can have a substantial effect on tyre pressure as the tyre gets warm or even hot due to outside air temperature and/or driving style - but we want to keep our pressure in a controlled range for reliable performance. That is because while water fully changes to the gaseous phase at boiling point / 100 C, some of it always changes to a certain degree as a chemical property of water, even below 100 C, so if a tyre has 30-40-50 C, that already has an effect despite being nowhere near the boiling point. If all you ever do is local trips to the Starbucks, the water in a tyre does not matter, as it never heats up in a substantial way, and if it did, the driving conditions would be well below the tyre's limit. But if you hit the Autobahn for 5 hours on a hot summer day, it matters. That is why some manufacturers will also tell you to measure the pressure at e.g. 20 C, and also specify speed limits for a given tyre pressure. "Cold" tyres means different things to different people, especially seeing how fucking dumb the average person is ;) But of course tyres also have a wide range of acceptable pressure, so it rarely matters whether you check pressure at 18 or 23 C... My tyres even have 2 pressures to choose from, so what is the correct pressure is on a spectrum - it has to be - tyres take a lot of abuse from ignorance and their use cases throughout their lifetime. Therefore pure nitrogen only makes sense on the racetrack, as tyres don't usually get tortured that much on public roads.
For over 25 years I have always put about 5 PSI less than the max on what the tire reads. Great video. Learned a lot. But why do the tire companies put example 44psi max pressure if we are going to look inside the door?
you're going to trigger alot of sheep with this video. Often they ignore the sticker and go right ahead and take it up to 40psi or more... Thank you for the video and trying to help the masses. ❤️
I had a bit of a fight with a service tech at Jiffy Lube over tire pressure once. Fortunately I looked at the service report before I’d left and he’d marked all of my tires at 45 psi. When I asked him why he did that, he said that the tire called for 45psi of maximum pressure. I argued with him for a few minutes about where to find the proper pressure recommended for that car and he still refused to reset them to the 32psi they should have been at. I ended up having to call out the store manager to explain it to him.
I'm still trying to get my neighbor to do a seasonal charge of the battery, when you test it it says good but recharge.12.23. The air is a future project. 😄 Good video lou.👍🇨🇦
Best explanation of, and case for, nitrogen fill that I've heard. There's a rampant false-dichotomy argument about whether nitrogen fill improves fuel economy due to lighter weight, but this argument detracts from the actual benefits. Thank you!
I feel like I just got a software upgrade… mind blown. I’ve been overfilling my tires by 7PSI, consistently, for years, having never even noticed that sticker. Thanks for the humbling but enlightening info!
That was the main purpose of my video, I wonder how many walked out to the car to see the sticker and then check their tires to find they had a leak, or low tire. I am to help. that is it. thank you. Lou
@@madatown I’m not sure that’s true. My wife’s car is an AWD Rogue, and we recently replaced 1 of the 4 tires, which makes the computer go nutty and it’s loud at certain speeds because the height of that 1 tire is different from all of the others. Being off on pressure all these years may well have cost in terms of gas mileage, wear and tear etc. If there’s a right way to do something, I’d prefer to know about it and at least attempt to do it that way.
@@michaelkeymont501 There is some wiggle room in inflation specs. About the only thing 7 psi over the door jamb sticker value will get you is a slightly rougher ride and theoretically better fuel economy. With regard to your tire replacement issues, if the older tires were worn that much, it might have been a good idea to replace the one on the opposite end of that axle at the same time.
@@billyjack3580 they actually weren’t that bad, but since this is AWD, from what I’ve read and been told, the computer tries to compensate for the mismatch and it causes excessive wear on the transmission. All I know is that it’s gotten LOUD and all of the tires are in decent shape. We’re probably going to replace them this one time and get rid of the car. It’s not worth the trouble if you have to spend a grand every time you get a flat tire. Yeah, I’ve never had any trouble with my slightly over-inflated tires, but it’s nice to know what they’re actually supposed to be inflated to instead of just guessing.
I always set it at 32 cold pressure. During my driving, i can see the pressure increase to 36. If you dont want your tire to blow up, dont over inflate it. When it was new, the tire pressure was at 50 psi. The dealer did not deflate it to the correct pressure.
As part of 'PDI'(pre-delivery inspection), the dealer is supposed to lower the tire pressures from their shipping value to what is on the vehicle door frame placard, or as I would - one PSI over, to protect the customer, who may never check the pressures until their first oil change, from themselves.
trailer tires are something I myself still arent sure about, I dont run max but I dont run near mid thirties, in my experience the greater the load the more pressure you want. So I dont dare comment on stuff I myself havent experienced fully to understand all the ins and outs. But when it comes to car and truck tires, the main goal was to inform of the door sticker that there is in fact a recommended pressure from the manufacturers. I appreciate you watching. Lou
@@MasterTechLou You are correct. Trailer tires should always be run at the max inflation listed in the tire sidewall. Passenger car tires should use the placard on the door jamb. (Goodyear Senior Tire Engineer - retired)
Gas station air fillers always have too much water to it. I bought the Dewalt air compressor. It has a digital gauge as well as a number cutoff. If I set it to 35 psi, when it reaches approx 35.0 +/- .1 it automatically shuts off.
What do you call INTELLECTUAL AND PRODIGY AND ACCOMPLISHED ADD two more SUBSTANTIAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE The answer is Master Tech lou My teacher God bless you for sharing it Take care and have a great Evening with all your family around you 👍 PROFICIENT Master Tech lou From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧
I'm a 56 year old female. My husband passed away and had always taken care of vehicles. I am now learning important things to know like this. Thank you.
Thank you! This was made to make people aware.
I always have a hard time getting the thingy on the tire thingy and it seems like air leaks out and I wonder if I am even getting any air in or wasting my $2
@@kaytriott the part we use is called and air chuck, and the part on the tire is the valve stem . Always best to buy a pressure gauge from a parts store they are only a few dollars. 😊
Sorry for your loss. Be careful out there. My fiancé has been told a lot of interesting things about her car. It looks like Lou will steer you right.
@@alanhassall thank you.
THANK YOU. Been arguing with a couple of the men in my life about this for YEARS. They won't listen to a "girl," but now I can point them to a video by a car dude and maybe I'll get through to them.
I'm a senior citizen and I only learned about four years ago to not look at the tire for the recommended pressure. This video provides a good service.
On most tires it says *maximum pressure.* It does not say normal operating pressure. That maximum pressure is the pressure above which there is a significant risk that the tire will blow off the rim and cause you to lose control of the vehicle if you fill it above that pressure when the tire is cold and then if you run the vehicle at highway speeds long enough to heat the tire up a lot.
Hey, better late than never. Fellow senior commenting.
My next door neighbor bought new tires on sale for his truck early last spring and had the tire shop mount & balance them for him. He bought E rated 10ply tires. (nice tires) The tire shop employees told him they don't look at the tire pressure rating on the tire they look at the sticker on the door. They had inflated his new tires to 40 psi. The tires are rated for 80 psi max. 60 psi being the minimum. I pointed it out to him because the tires looked under inflated and if he expected to get decent life out of them, he had better read the tires inflation recommendation on the tires themselves. 50 year mech/tec.
Well duh if you changing from factory recommended tires to E rated or heavy duty you should already know this the vehicle manufacturer didn't equip your F150 with E rated tires cuz they put them on the F350s 450s and up so i wonder why?
I'v installed tires on cars ( and trucks ) for 35 + years , and i approve this video.
have a nice day . 😊
Here’s a tip: the paid timer gas station air supplies have you racing around your vehicle to beat the clock. Park appropriately, take off all valve covers, and quickly slightly overinflated each tire. Don’t waste time checking pressures while pump is giving you air. Then use a quality tire gauge with air bleeder button (I like Intercomp brand and keep one in each truck) and gently bleed each down to your exact desired pressure.
I can agree with that
Good idea if one must pay for air. I refuse. Discount/America's Tire will air you up for free, just drive up.. And/or buy a reliable inflator, use it at home.
@@faxmen09 thanks for that info. Do they use nitrogen? First I've heard about nitrogen air in tires
@@recoveringsoul755 No, DT/AT do not use/sell N2, never have. They use the good old fashioned and 'free'; 78%N2 air. Bought tires there since early 2000s, been very satisfied. Also, free proper (USTMA) (wheel and tire off, inside tire plug-patch w/rebalance) puncture repair to all, no purchase needed. So air up free, and keep a good gauge in trunk or glove box, check occasionally.
theres a special place in hell for the cheap ass that decided to start charging (2 bucks in places !!!) for air....
This is great video
My local Costco puts nitrogen in tires when you buy from them.
Last year they installed brand new two filling stations and guess what it’s nitrogen.
If you have local Costco check you can get free nitrogen.
Mine tyres are 36 all 4 tyres a E Citroen Berlingo with Nitrogen.
@@foppo100wtf ??????
I have found that the pressure on the sticker is too low and is designed for a soft ride. I always got too much wear on the outside of the treads when using the sticker pressure. Now I use the average of the sticker pressure and the max presure on the sidewall. If the sticker says 32 and the max is 44, I use 38. I get a firmer ride with better handling, the tires wear evenly, and I get 1-2 MPG better gas milage.
I'm not saying you're wrong, your experience could be entirely true. However, auto manufacturers have been trying everything for the last 45 years to increase fuel mileage. If a simple increase in tire pressure could do that, they'd absolutely be recommending the max safe pressure from the factory. With that being said, an unbiased test of different tire pressures with the factory tires on a new vehicle would be very interesting.
@@ironpanther2420 and oil companies have been thwarting the auto industry left and right……..
G'day mate, you are absolutely correct!! The best way to decide what tyre pressure to run your tyres at is to monitor the wear on the tread of the tyre. I run about 10 PSI over the sticker pressures and in winter just a little bit more again to compensate for the cold. I get fantastic mileage and very good wear out of my tires. Even the guys in the industry give you the wrong advice and the pressures are always too low causing the tyres shoulders to wear out very quickly, especially with modern rounded shoulder tyres anyway. I loved your comment well done on knowing to run your tyres at much higher pressures.
I agree, I have been doing this for years. Usually 10 %ish less than max pressure
It all depends on how you load the car. For somebody who drives alone a lot, the recommended pressure might be a bit too high. For somebody constantly driving with a full trunk and 4 or 5 passengers, or a fully loaded pickup truck most of the time, the recommended pressure might be a bit low. If your tires are wearing evenly and you’re not having control issues when the tires warm up, you’re probably just fine.
Growing up i was always told to make sure that you have the right type of air in the tires. It was one or the other summer / winter. That only lasted till I started driving and in auto shop. Man was I gullible. Good on you for informing others👍.
We always told people they needed Japanese air for their Japanese tires😁
I bought my own air compressor and battery jumper for my Christmas present to myself. Now I can fill up my own tires in my driveway and don’t have to find a machine that’s working ✅
Little things like that can really be a life changer. Always be prepared!
thanks Im 62 yrold widow i needed this info. thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great tips. I filled the tires to the max once (50psi) to see what would happen. It was on a Beetle, and it was terrifying. It felt like trying to drive a rubber ball down the road.
I had a flat repaired not long ago and the shop put 42psi in (I run 35) which I knew right away because my KIA has a tpws that shows actual air pressure in each tire pretty much in real time. And these are guys who are supposed to know what they’re doing.
They don't care about psi
Good video, Lou......many people just don't realize how essential correctly inflated tires are to safe driving. The only thing I would emphasize, (as other commenters have) is to BUY A GOOD QUALITY AIR GUAGE for every car you own. Keep it in the glove box. Also get a 12 Volt air pump and keep it in the trunk. You rarely have tire problems in the parking lot of a tire store......it always happens at the WORST time or situation imaginable....BE PREPARED. Thanks for posting this.
Well said! thanks for reaching out!
Add a battery jumper combo because batteries can get weak . And it's never warm and sunny ! I think my combo was about $50.
@@tomsnow51 Of course. I was only pointing out the tire related stuff. I always have a spare tire and jack, cheater bar for loosening lug nuts, flashlight, basic tools, blanket and emergency drinking water, spare key, towel, (remember the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy) etc. As a former Boy Scout, I always try to "Be Prepared". 😀
Well done. Would add three things; 1) you can drive up to most tire shops and they'll check and correct tire pressure in each tire for free. You don't have to get out of the car, you don't need an appointment, and it's generally done in real time. 2) Tires should be checked at least once a month because all tires leak air. 3) If the outside temp changes by 40 or more degrees for an extended period of time, you'll need to correct the air pressure (most of us don't have nitrogen filled tires). Many thanks for the great vid!
No way some jackleg Auto shop guy is gonna drop what he's doing to check your tires, your not money and are a waste of time, if some long Legged pretty Asian babe pulls up he will check her tires and drop the Monkey wrench on his toes to get to her car.
TIRE shop
No shop in the UK would do that for free, they would tell you that you need all sorts of things for your car if it was free
Tires are too hot to get a correct reading. Tire pressure is to be checked cold.
I was building, grounds, vehicle maintenance supervisor for 27 years and had aired up lots of tires you are spot on, one day a lady staff member ask me to check her tires and air them up because she was afraid they might blow up, I gave her the exact same advice as you just stated, and I had her do two tires herself wile I watched, they wear all really low , later she came back and said how much better her car drove and she was no longer afraid, this was at a behavioral healthcare, so I helped a therapist get over her fear of airing up tires. I could drive by the fleet of cars an see one leaning and know I had a possible flat.
Thank you for the clarification. A tire center has been putting 40# in my tires for the past two years(changing regular to winter tires), yet the label on the door frame says 30#. Their response when I questioned them, "to be on the safe side we put 40#." Not this year. I told them to follow what was listed on the door frame. Thank you again.
Heres the problem, if you were to ask them to clarify why its safer, they would fumble for the answer. how do we know better than the company that directs us on what to do? of course there are instances where you need more or less, but those are far and few between. You are welcome.
"To be on the safe side." ❓ I have no idea what that means. A couple/few psi over placard ok, 10 psi, not so much. Good move to tell them to go with door frame psi.
Actually, if they overinflate, to a 'reasonable' degree, that's doing me a favor - at the time I took the car in for oil, whatever. The next morning, I can just bleed the tires down to door frame sticker pressures with my gauge for that purpose. (If only everybody know this - not all garages, or even car dealer service bays, bother to check for the correct tire pressure specific to each vehicle they service.)
You are wrong 😂😂😂
You should have a air pump in your vehicle, they are cheap enough to get one. Save yourself a lot of headaches... 😊
I worked in a service station for a decade and I never learned this. Thank you for the education.
I always keep a tire pressure gauge in the glovebox and an air pump in trunk. I've also found 32psi to be a pretty safe bet for topping up a vehicle you are unfamiliar with. I've helped plenty of people running around with 15psi in their tires. It's kinda scary thinking about how many car are driving highway speeds on under inflated tires
There's plenty of folks out there running around with 35psi or whatever in their tires and wearing a strip down the middle of the tire. That's bad personal economics. You got it, guy
I have found, through many years of airing-up my own tires, that 30-32psi gives me the most even tread wear. That, plus rotation, will give you maximum life.
Excellent practice to have good tire gauge in the trunk or glove box. And follow placard psi as directed in vid.
I mainly keep a little 12v compressor in the trunk just in case I have to use my spare tire. I check the psi a couple times a year but these cheapo temporary spares leak down fast compared to real tires.
Likewise. A nice dual-piston 12 volt compressor and a dial pressure gauge always in the vehicle.
Nice video. I always follow the sticker in the driver door jam. I used to go by the tire’s max pressure then realized the auto manufacturers put those stickers on the car for good reason and probably should follow their instructions on how to properly maintain my tires.
Thanks for the nice comments, the sticker is the guideline and what the manual and manufacturers recommended. Sure theres cases youll need more pressure but there is no magic answer. I was tryin to raise awareness of the sticker. Thanks for watching!
Dude. You follow the tire’s specifications as a rule. Don’t try to use logic for a non-sensical basis of operating
As a 12 year tire tech veteran I can confirm every word of this video is correct and accurate.
Now please good sir master tech, teach them to adjust their side view mirrors. I'd guess more than 90% of the vehicles I pull in have less than half the view they should have for safe driving.
Actually the lever on the center rear view for night time driving was on my list. Im sure you deal with that too!
How do you know a persons view! Everybody is built different and sits different in a vehicle! 😆
@@onclepete7888 After driving trucks with mirrors I always put spot mirrors on my side view mirrors. I can instantly check the sides and rear.
Very well explained,and your not ranting at all. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Excelent video!
How fast the tire inflates is directly related to what pressure your air tank regulator is set on.
Filling a tire with 40 psi coming through the air hose takes a bit longer than if the regulator is set up to 90 psi.
Use a good pressure gauge and check your pressure often when filling them up.
Just drive up to Discount Tire, they check it for free.
They may not make the pressure perfect but it's probably a lot better than 95% of the tires on the road right now.
Speed of inflation is also related to volume of air in the tire. A little tire will get there much quicker than a tire on a 2500 pickup
When I serviced aircraft tires, taking the up to 250 psi, we would use 500 psi line pressure. It would still take time to raise the pressure five pounds.
@@robertheinkel6225 I guess I should have also mentioned the volume issue, it’s always something slowing you down !
"Just drive up to Discount Tire, they check it for free." Bingo dude! DT/AT will do it for free, with a drive up. Great company.
Had replacement tires installed at Discount Tire. Something felt odd while driving down the freeway. Got home and checked the pressure after the tires got to ambient. They were all spot on at max rated pressure. Maybe new guy?
Sometimes you need the long explanation to understand any simple procedure. He gave us a clear fast long explanation. Great job! 😊
I check my tires in the morning before the sun shines on them. The sunlight can affect the pressure reading by 1-2 PSI.
Correct, the side were the sun hit will be higher .
It’s doesn’t matter when you inflate them because the pressure fluctuates throughout the day based on air temperature and heat from usage.
Every change of 10 degrees in air temperature causes your tire pressure to fluctuate 1-2 psi. So if you inflate them before sunrise, then they’re over-inflated at noon.
You want to inflate the tires during the time of day that you mostly drive, which likely isn’t before sunrise. And rather than the coolest part of the day, or the hottest part of the day, it’s best to inflate them at the average temperature of the day/week. So if the temperature is between 60-80F that day/week, then inflate them at 70F, which might be 10AM or 6PM, that way you have the least variance.
Of course you can still inflate them at whatever time of day is convenient for you, just be sure the tires are cold, and adjust the air pressure based on the temperature you’re inflating them at. So if you inflate them at 60F, but the average temperature for the day/week is 70F, then under inflate them by 1-2 psi.
If you’re driving through Death Valley at high noon in the middle of summer, adjust the air pressure for that temperature.
Give it a try. Since you already inflate your tires before sunrise, check the air pressure at the hottest time of the day. It may not be much on a day that only fluctuates 10-20F, but on a day that fluctuates 20-40F it could make a big difference.
@@LuckyCharms777 i believe matt means is not Ambient temp,is the tires that get hit by direct sunlight, on my trailer i see as much as 3 psi difference from the tire on the shade side vs the sun side. But when checked during the night they are even. this is without using the trailer for weeks
@@mandytuning
Oh, okay, thanks for letting me know, that’s not something that I’ve even considered before. It’s interesting that sunlight caused such a difference in air pressure, but it only makes sense especially considering how hot it can make a vehicle interior. I guess I need to start checking air pressure at night too, and adjust according to expected daytime temperatures. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Good advice, Lou. You made some points that a lot of other YT'ers miss. Couple things to add to what you say; Nitrogen is fairly misunderstood outside of mining and industrial uses. The manufacturer sets "cold air pressure" so it is really a few pounds lower than where the tire will operate. So, either use dried air or go the few pounds higher with nitrogen. The nitrogen is really beneficial in large industrial/mining tires due to the fact that it wont let a tire burn on the inside, if you hit a powerline with a boom or dump box for example. Pressure listed on the car can be fairly accurate but consider this. How many passengers does that take into account? How much luggage in the trunk? If a pickup, the numbers are usually with a max load in the bed, so no load, they are over-inflated. I've seen a lot of variation over my career in the tire biznis. Most of the time these will be close enough, but if you really want to maximize your tire life setting the pressure with the chalk method, or watching how the nipples wear off when the tire is new and adjusting appropriately will be the best way to go.
I always have a laugh at people on youtube giving advice on something they don't know or understand but you my friend are very knowledgable and very clear and to the point. I am willing to bet that your channel will grow greatly in the future when people realize that they can follow your instructions with good results!!! Great video!!
I really appreciate that!
Agree, good straight forward video with accurate information...and this comment section is hilarious. Every self-taught TH-cam mechanic is here with some of the dumbest comments I have ever seen.
I agree. I recently purchased a 12 v. inflator to use on road trips. When I read the directions, it said it was accurate to w/i 10%. 3 lbs. + or minus is a lot of leeway for a passenger vehicle.
@@plowe6751 why are they different?
Oh, ok never realized that . I guess I have limited experience with the Mercedes.
thx man i will admit i have been maxing out my tires for 40 yrs
I learned a few things from this video ! After all these years. KUDOS !!
As an old guy, I don’t bother much about the 2#variance between axles, I fill them all to 35# . Worked out great for me the last ten years or so.
One tip I think he forgot to mention is to always check your tires after having your oil changed or after having your tires rotated/balanced since the tech checking the tires will usually pump too much air in them. Check them when they are cold though like the morning after the oil change.
that's no tip, it would be too late , because air changes with climate so weekly check is more like it ,.
I wouldn’t say “usually”, I haven’t changed my own oil in years and have only had an issue with over inflation once, but it did happen. I actually had to fight with the service tech to lower the pressure (he’d inflated the tire to the maximum PSI rating for the tire) back down to something closer to what the vehicle was rated for. He refused to do it until I called his boss out and his boss told him where to look for the correct pressure setting. I only found out because I read his service report, if I hadn’t done that I wouldn’t have known until I checked the tires myself in a month or so.
@@drive-2786 I didn't say that was the only time to check them, did I now.
The tire pressure written on the vehicle is for the stock tires with the stock rims. If you have chosen to alter your vehicle, the air pressure may change, example there is often a difference between snow tires verus stock street tires versus low profile wide tires on taller rims.
yup, you go by the tire and what that manufacturer recommends not the door.. This doesn't mean go max psi the tire indicates.. If you go by the door sticker and the tires or rims are different could cause wear problems etc..
@@IbanezGuitarz87 Check with your tire dealer or tech! Many high performance tire manufacturers have recommendations for various upgrades.
Back in my day B.F.Goodrich, for the T/A performance line, had a whole book on tire size and pressures and how to calculate the proper pressure for the application.
caveat: "back in my day" I probably had to explain a couple of times a week the difference between a radial and a bias ply tire.
@@johnelectric933 good point!
Right. So the contention point of the video, like the door placard tire info, is useless.
@@uview1
Nope.
Nuance. No one said it was trash or wrong, just that there may be an alternative. The difference is seldom more than a couple of psi.
The sticker is always safe for any of the tire sizes listed.
Generally, the car manufacturers want a nice ride. Tire manufacturers want better wear and performance. Neither want to compromise safety.
We were all talking about putting on a different size tire and wheel which changes the volume and therefore the load/pressure figure for that tire.
Since you usually go up in size not down, for that case the sticker may be a little high. Worst that will do is wear out the center of the tread faster. It is not a safety problem.
You give clear and sound advice. Good job!
Thank you I appreciate that!
I 've ran the max tire pressure stated on any of my vehicle tires for over 20 years. There is no question that improves the MPG, but it's a bit rougher ride.
Much rougher
lol
5:48 I learned how to do this the hard way in 1976. I had been used to the automatic pumps in which the bell started ringing when it reached the pressure you set, but this time, I tried to fill my bike tire with a hose that had the gauge right on the valve. I pulled the valve and the gauge read zero, so I held it and it kept on reading zero. After maybe a minute, the tire blew up and I went deaf for the rest of the day. I realized just after that that the gauge was disabled when the lever was pulled, so you had to keep pumping and checking. I guess they are all that way because it's impossible to get a good reading while the air is flowing. Anyway, it's good it happened with just a bicycle tire; a car tire could have killed me.
You're lucky. A friend of the family worked in a small shop literally on the corner from where I lived. He was filling a tire and there was no restrictor/regulator on the line, and he hit the tire directly from the big tank, and in seconds the pressure rose so high that blew the tire to shreds. Pieces of bead nailed him in the head, took out one eye and part of his skull, he was permanently deaf in one ear and had permanent damage in the other. In short, he got f'ed up bigtime in a matter of seconds.
Sister once asked me why her car was riding so rough. She filled one tire to over 60psi! I told her to gtf away from the tire and let it cool down overnight before even attempting anything. I had to go over the next day and (keeping in mind what happened to the guy above), approached the tire cautiously, unscrewed the cap, and (idiotic as it sounds now) had a metal garbage-can cover as a shield like Captain Freaking America protecting my face while I poked the schraeder valve with a twig and deflated the tire.
Wow, about that same time I rode my mom's bicycle with a friend. We stopped at a gas station on the way back and I tried putting air in her tire. The tire blew up for me too. I didn't go deaf, but had to walk the bike home. Luckily only a mile or two. Had no idea about tire psi.
Ha ha, memories! I did the same as a kid with a bicycle tire and I had a 5 mile walk home, I also learned how to fix a tire and about psi too.
DUH LOL
Thanks! Great video with great info!!!!!! One of the best car care channels I've seen. Count me a new sub!!
Awesome, thank you!
Car companies engineer tire pressure into the suspension. If you play with the tire pressure you're playing with suspension dynamics. Just go by what the car sticker says.
Funny thing. My vehicle's door sticker calls for 32 PSI ... which handles like a wet sponge.
@@RideAcrossTheRiver change your tires' aspect ratio?
@@rustywater3219 and lower the resolution, more fps
Probably only running 60 fps tyres he need to upgrade to the more superior 120 fps tyres I have heard good things about them
Although they can't possible compensate for every tire design you might put on after the OEM. That said, the ideal likely doesn't deviate too far from the recommendation.
Great information, thank you so much for the lesson on counting the seconds. I always put too much air in my tire but now that I have this information it will help me do a better job.
This video could not have come at a better time. I’ve been driving around with flat tires for years. Now after this video, I can fill my tires air. Thank you!!!
hey im sure you either learned something or agreed with something, either way, its a win. thanks
Driving with flat tires for years? Post a you tube video, love to see it. Comments would be fun to read too.
@@faxmen09 this is the risk a TH-camr takes when I try to post informal videos.
@@MasterTechLou Indeed! You've gotten some doozy replies/comments on this one. Guessing having a thick skin helps.
@@faxmen09 Broken home plus southside of Chicago. Let the haters hate
I remember a good few years ago, my brother got his tyres changed and came to see me after. He said the ride was a bit rubbish since, I asked him whether he'd checked the tyre pressures and he said the fitter had inflated then to 45 or 47psi and stated that was the correct tyre pressure.
He had 15in wheels with 185/55 on his Vauxhall Corsa and they're supposed to be around 30...
I then explained that his tyre fitter was wrong (always fun explaining to people how 'professionals' are wrong) and that his overly inflated tyre would've had poor contact patch with the ground and been pretty dangerous in the rain.
I also explained the door sticker at that point.
So bad the misinformation out there, it's a good thing that at least the correct information provided by people like yourself can end up offering people some insight as it's clearly done here. 😊
Thank you I appreciate you and the nice comments!
Also, keep in mind that if you have a donut spare it will run at a much higher pressure--often around 50-60 psi.
and that typically there will be a sticker on the wheel itself that will specify the correct pressure for the donut tire
@@JeeperZJ Yes, thank you. Now THAT psi rating that’s marked on the tire should definitely be followed! As well as the speed limit of the tire.
I can't tell you how many doughnuts roll into the shop with
Thanks for pointing this out. I check my tire pressure every other week and my doughnut spare every month, and it’s always a few pounds low.
@@jeanenviedapprendre
Recently had to use my donut spare, which was never used or checked in 18 years, lol. I was surprised that it appeared inflated when I took it out, but the reality upon installing it and checking the air pressure after it looked low with weight on it, is that it had about 10psi compared to the 80psi it was supposed to have. Still, it was enough to get me to the gas station 1.5 miles away to fill it compared to the completely flat regular tire.
Thank you for bringing attention to a very misunderstood subjects. Emphasize adding 4 psi to the pressure recommended on the sticker. I could list many reasons for this but for now I just say "DO IT"!!! It is almost always better to run a tire over inflated vs under inflated. Coming from a 20 engineer for a tire company.
Thank you 🙏
very informative video. I never knew this.
Really good info Lou for those unfamiliar with vehicle care. I also keep a very basic pen type gauge in the car mainly for consistency. Back in the 70's I had a after school /Saturday job as a bowser boy, engine check boy, tyre repair boy, floor sweeping boy. I learnt a lot about tyres and tube. So here's what is important about tyre pressure. 1 or 2 psi is not going to make cause much of an issue but 5 psi or greater is. Especially if the pressure in all 4 tyre's is different (yes it happens), unequal tyre pressures is a bigger issue than slightly high or low. As it can greatly affect handling and braking.
I didn't know to go by the door sticker until I heard rainman ray say it. He also explained that the number on the tire is different because it can fit different vehicles that may require different pressures, therefore as you stated, it is only the max pressure that the tire is rated for.
Do you feel the difference? I recently had high rear pressures (after towing+ a big load in the back) with no load -- lots of oversteer if I came into corners quick! Wet braking would be better too with correct pressures:)
Why the hell would be it there ? Engineers don’t give a fuck. And most cars do not have tire specs in gas caps
@@nomercyinc6783 its there because vehicle chassis' have rated loads, and have certain weights. I can put the same tyres on a 1 tonne camry as a 2.5T hilux, provided they are rated to support the PSI both vehicles need, but if I put the hilux PSI rating on the camry, they will bulge in the middle and wear rapidly in the middle, while having reduced traction, and the other way around they will bulge on the edge, and the edges will wear rapidly and the tyre could even come off while cornering.
I have argued with tires shops so many times about this exact same topic. They always want to inflate to the tires' max, and I tell them don't go beyond what is listed inside my door. They never listen, and then I am standing there letting air out right in front of them before I leave.
The tires I buy say 51psi max, but my truck says 35 psi. I typically run with slightly more than my door says, but only a few pounds. Like between 37 and 40. Usually 40 on the front where the engine weight is, and 37 on the rear with an empty bed.
If I am hauling a lot of weight I add air to the rear tires, and if it's a heavy load I put the full max 51 psi. As soon as I am done hauling I let the air back out to 37.
Unfortunately there are many service people out there that don't know that the pressure on the tire is max pressure. Good work.
Agree, that is unfortunate. What's also unfortunate, when those same "service people" and even average joe shown the correct psi, i.e., placard psi as Lou states, they still want to believe it's max pressure on tire sidewall. Just read some comments here.
@@faxmen09 There are some things even duct tape can't fix.
@@aerofd True that!
Thank you for this advice about inflating your tyres with Nitrogen, I wasn't aware of that benefit! A lot of commercial companies and including the military paint the tyre pressure on the top of the wheel arch. On your civvie car you can paint the 'official instruction manual' tyre pressure on the tyre valve stem.
Or you can just memorize it, but lacking that, just check the door each time. It’s not like that’s difficult.
@@LuckyCharms777 True althiugh I am not thinking of me.
Nitrogen isnt a must have, but its a cant hurt and does help with certain scenarios.
@@billmmckelvie5188
Sorry, I was imagining a scenario where only you inflated your tires.
By the way, after watching this video, I came across a few articles concluding nitrogen in passenger vehicle tires is overrated. Apparently the NHTSA did a study, and so did Consumer Reports, that it doesn’t make a great difference in fuel consumption or tire life compared to just regularly checking air pressure. The greatest benefit for consumers is not needing to check tire air pressure regularly, although I recall hearing that blowouts can be less severe as well, but with proper tire pressure there are surely less blowouts. Between the cost to fill with nitrogen and the inconvenience of filling stations, there just wasn’t much of a benefit to make it worthwhile.
@@LuckyCharms777 I agree entirely with regular checking. In the UK we used to use a code word as an aide memoir for checking you car. P.O.W.E.R. Petrol, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber. I am old school were we used to have to check points, distributor cap and spark plugs, a slightly sandy residue on the plugs indicated a healthy engine Depending on your mileage your frequency of checking all your levels should be at least fortnightly (8,000 to 10,000 annual mileage) or weekly if you prefer. Fleet use has to be at the start of your shift due to our law. Thanks to integral tyre compressors everything is far more convenient than previously!
Good info. I would add one thing: it is best to use your own gauge, and the same gauge every time. It may not be perfectly accurate, but it will tell you how much air your tires are losing over a period of weeks. The gauge at a service station air pump may be even less accurate, and the accuracy of one gauge to another is likely to vary, so if you don't use the same pump with the same gauge at the same service station, every time you put air in your tires, the difference in accuracy between any 2 of gauges may fool you as to how fast your tires are losing air. Just use the same gauge. And don't drop it! A good bang may either change its accuracy or damage it so that it doesn't work at all. A cheap stick gauge is usually accurate enough. But use a gauge that shows your tires' pressure roughly in the middle of the gauge's range. That is where it is the most accurate. So for example if your tire is supposed to have 30 psi, use a gauge that goes from 10 psi to 50 or 60, and not a gauge that goes from 20 to 100.
You are absolutely correct. In the comments I’ve stated that I look for consistency over accuracy. Thanks!
Can I use Tire Pressure Gauge for Air And Tire Tread gauge for wear so it won’t get blow out
@@tyrellhawkins9230 I'm not quite sure what ou are asking. By "so it won't get blow out" to you mean so that the tire won't get a blow-out? If that is what you mean then the answer is by using a tire pressure gauge to keep the tire at a correct pressure, and by using a tread gauge to make sure the tire has adequate tread you will minimize the chances that the tire will get a blow out but you can still get a blow out if, for example you strike a road hazard, say a "pot-hole" (a hole in the road) or a sharp object that cuts into the tread or the sidewall. If the tire has the correct pressure a pot hole is less likely to cause a blowout, or a flat. If there is plenty of tread left, road hazards are less likely to cause a flat or a blowout.
@@soilmanted thanks for information and I just saying that because I went to discount tire a few days ago and they told me that my REAR Back tire got 4 cracks in it and my Front passenger tire needs a whole another wheel and they said they can’t replace it. Then I went to Belle Tire for tires inspection and they were using a Tire Tread gauge and they told me that my rear back tire is number 4 and the other three were 6,6, and 8 and so I wanna know is having a good tire tread for safety when the tread is messed up… because I ordered one 2days ago
@@soilmanted thanks for information and I just saying that because I went to discount tire a few days ago and they told me that my REAR Back tire got 4 cracks in it and my Front passenger tire needs a whole another wheel and they said they can’t replace it. Then I went to Belle Tire for tires inspection and they were using a Tire Tread gauge and they told me that my rear back tire is number 4 and the other three were 6,6, and 8 and so I wanna know is having a good tire tread for safety when the tread is messed up… because I ordered one 2days ago
My dad taught me about the importance of tyre pressures over 60 years ago. My driving instructor taught me about the importance of correct tyre pressures. I always thought every driving instructor did the same. Obviously, they don't. And I always check my tyres every 2 weeks and use a foot pump to top up if necessary. Maybe some people think I'm sad, but hey, I don't care.
Not sad at all, my neighbors probably think I have holes in my tires or something, I check them every two weeks or so as well. It's a good idea to know all about your car, I mean we depend on it with our lives.
Almost every one has become reliant on warning lights. I recommend everyone check at every fuel fill but always as you walk to your car doesnt hurt to take a glance at your tires.
After years of driving different vehicles with different tires I judge by the sticker in the door jam first, then observing the wear. If wear is heavy in the center of the tire it's overinflated. Rule #1.
Great advice
You're exactly correct in doing this.
I've heard, but not confirmed, that over-inflating greatly shortens the life of the tire, but inflating to the door sticker cuts gas mileage. Of course if it's so over-inflated that it wears in the center then that would definitely shorten the longevity of the tire.
Thanks for the nitrogen explanation. Up til now I thought it was some kind of lame scam but it does make sense. I think aircraft may have the same in their tires but of course it’s 50 below and with far less ambient air pressure at 35,000 ft.
All gases expand and contract with temperature. The only benefit I can think of for nitrogen is that it is DRY.
I always got a 12V air pump and gauge in my cars. Vacuum-cleaner/air-pump combo works quite nicely and has a built-in gauge that's remarkably accurate (within 1psi). Still, that small gauge is hard to read accurately, so I always also carry a nice big GH Meisner gauge to verify pressures all-around.
I have a 12v inflator but decided to get a battery operated one as well. One month after buying and the cost is long forgotten. The battery unit is perfect for topping off, and ther 12v is always in reserve if the battery runs low.
I go by the sticker on the door for the correct psi. For my Challenger is 32 psi on all four tires. I have a longacre analog tire pressure gauge that's extremely accurate and a portable hand held air inflator that works great.
Excellent information. I have always been told, any motor vehicles go by the placard on the door, and trailer tires go by the maximum pressure on the tire sidewall. I am affiliated with a national rental company, and they have years and billions of miles worth of experience in tire knowledge. So I go with what they've told me based on their knowledge.
Re trailers I think that's safe, but i bring them down a bit if I'm running it lightly loaded, as with little load full psi, and long roads, i get series wear in the centre of the tread.
rental car companies usually have fairly new cars with fairly new tires, so they may not actually have all that much experience after all. overinflating your tires may not cause a failure over say a year or say 10k miles, but it could still ride like shit and wear the center of the tire our prematurely.
What do you know the temperature dropped and my tire pressure gauge went on. Happened last year as well. I have been super nervous to put air in my tires myself so this video is proving to be very helpful and informative and I very much appreciate your time and knowledge of this particular area. Wish me luck 🤞🏻😅
I have found that slightly overinflating my tires delivers an extra 1-2 MPG. I originally had Michelin Primacy tires that said max pressure was 45 psi so I filled them to 38 psi. I have switched to Cross Climate with a max pressure of 50 psi so I am experimenting with 40 psi. I think that as long as you don't mind a slightly harsher ride and stay well under the max pressure rating that keeping tires a bit overinflated (using an accurate gauge to monitor it) can save you a buck or two each tank of gas.
I agree with all but one point. Your one second rule. If everyone has a shop compressor/tank at 150-175psig then your rule may work well. Tire size and volume of air in a tire is a factor. You still get a A+ from me. People should listen to you.
I find that you need to inquire of the tire manufacturer of the correct pressure when not replacing with OEM, they do differ. A harder or softer compound requires different pressure, especially if you swap Summer and Winter tires. You also need to monitor your pressures seasonally. There is a big difference in pressure with 90 degree ambient and 30 degree even if you do not switch compounds.
A harder or softer compound requires different pressure? Really? What tire manual are you reading?
As a 20 year professional if someone asked me this question I would tell them USE THE PRESSURE PROVIDED ON THE DOOR LABEL. You are 100% incorrect, if the tire size is the same as the OEM, the pressure needs to be the same, regardless of tire compound.
@@robertkorn In a static world I would not be interested in arguing. However, the 'cold' PSI driving in Houston in the summer or Duluth in the winter has an operating PSI that would differ greatly, maybe 10 PSI. I know driving my sports car aggressively can alter the 'hot' PSI 4+ pounds. Maybe the recommended pressure is an average, but almost never optimal for longevity, MPG or performance.
@Dave blockhead read his comment next time before trying to answer. His response HAD NOTHING to do with your weather. He is strictly responding to the previous post regarding tire materials. Again learn to read. Its fundamental.
@@zlonewolf Its more of a comprehension thing 😅
Not to beat a horse dead but, have a senior citizen neighbor I help out with vehicles from time to time. Her son firmly believes max tire pressure is the correct psi, and there's no changing his mind. I've been helping out with tire psi (placard) for her. Son came by yesterday and broke out the compressor. So, checked out tires on Civic today, placard 30psi. Cold morning psi, 44, 45, 48, and 49psi respectively. I was SMDH. I reduced all them to 32psi, mom owner wanted and knows what I did. At least taking air out easier than inflating. She has a Ranger truck, I didn't check yet, but can't wait to see tire pressure on those. /s
Using smaller compressors take more time. Usually the pancake and small cylinder types are about 3 seconds for 1 psi on a car tire. My pickup (275/7017) seems to be closer to 4 seconds. I’ve even had one max out putting in 70 psi with a load on the truck. Wish I had a compressor with more volume and pressure. Oh 1/4” fittings with 3/8” hose.
Trying to inflate 33in tyres with a cordless compressor takes like...60s per psi ;) The ARB twin air is good apparently. I love the Sherpa Big Air, but you pay for it, in weight too :)
This is absolutely brilliant...love how much depth uve gone in to. Thanku so much ... blessings to u x
Always go by the sticker. The same tire can fit may different cars. Some heavier than others...
Yes sir, it's what I've always done. 👍 No issues. And another wise and common sense comment.
Great info! Especially at 5:34 regarding the second per pound info
Depends on compressor but at the end I show you why I said that 🤷🏼♂️
Motorcycle rider here, I have my tire digital reader in the pocket and know by heart what psi my Ninja 300 needs - Front 28psi, Rear 32psi. Correct reading should be checked IN THE MORNING, before you start driving. Tires warm up AFTER you drive and pressure increases, so again check PSI in the morning before you start driving. You all ride safe ✌️
Tucson,Az here. I’ve always kept my tire pressure at 35 psi. Never had issues or tire lights come on
I had a flat and had the tire repaired by a shop that I was not familiar with. Later I noticed an odd shaking when I got on the interstate. I took it to my regular mechanic and he found that the tire had about a QUART of water in it.
Never heard of that. I think he conned you.
❓
@@jimmcdiarmid7308 He is a terrible con man he charged me $20.00. His family has had a shop at the same location for 68 Years.
I had a similar experience where I started to get odd shaking in the front end. Went to a great shop where they told me the tire patch that was done elsewhere had finally begun to bulge, giving me an actual bump on the tire itself.
The ambient temperature comes into play. Most manufacturers base the suggested tire pressure on the measurement being taken at 68° F.
The sticker on the inside of the door is a good recommendation if you keep the stock tire size. However, if you change wheels/tires and they are a different size from the factory size, that sticker isn’t the most accurate recommendation.
Yes but a sticker is better than no sticker.
Most folks stick with the OE placard size tires and OE wheels so placard is the correct guide.
@@faxmen09 Cool. I already addressed that in my post.
Accurate and informational , sometimes people dont know the simplest of things , not their fault they just assume , though some you tube mechanics spout utter dangerous s*ite .We overlanded a 3 tonne Land Rover Defender , in the deserts , tyre pressure was dictated by "as low as necessary , as high as possible" .Just to get you grip and out of difficulty , even ran at 1 bar not the road pressure of 3.5 bar .Always adjust the pressure when conditions changed or you destroy the tyre or worse
I got tired of trying to find a gas station air fill that wasn't spitting water out so I bought one of those portable tire fill air compressors and do it at home myself. Takes a little longer, but at least I get dry air. I don't rely on it's analog gauge, I simply slightly overfill, and then back off a little using a high end digital air gauge.
Why is the air your compressing drier at your home than at the station? Did you add a drier to the compressor inlet?
@@GrampalettasCamp Because there's no water condensation in the small unit, at least none that can be seen or felt. At the gas station you can literally see water spraying out by pressing the valve.
@@Joseph1NJ When you compress air into a tank, the water condenses out in that tank. It can be drained off or filtered out (or both). When you use a compressor with no tank and fill the tire directly, the water condenses out in the tire. The amount will depend on the humidity when you fill the tire.
You aren’t getting drier air. The condensation is simply happening in your tire rather than in the air hose. If you feel how hot your little compressor gets you will see why. It is hard to condense water out of hot air, but once the air cools in your tire, the water will condense inside your tire.
I always read the side of my tires. My last set max pressure 44, for the new set I put on last month says max pressure of 50, because they’re a different brand it takes different pressures
If you stick 51 psi max pressure tires on your car that has a sticker saying 29 to 34 psi, you're setting yourself up for premature tire wear and dangerous braking situations. There's a balance to be had.
You don't listen to the tire
@@RStark-ek7mh you have to obey the car not the tire
@@RStark-ek7mh the government would love more mpg tho
@@RStark-ek7mh I'm no q boi
Think I realized why my, new to me 20 year old car with 260 k miles, tires keep needing air in the tires…corroded rims. Makes sense now. Thanks!
You are welcome 🙏 if you want to verify spray soapy water around the tire/rim area and the valve stem. Youll see bubbles 😊
I feel like an idiot not knowing there was a sticker that tells you the proper PSI...LOL. I've gone my whole life not knowing that. Thanks for the info.
Thats the only reason I posted this video., there are many other instances where pressure should be adjusted accordingly but this was meant as a means to share basic info on where to find the spec. Glad it was helpful. Lou
All owners' manuals tell you to "refer to the sticker on the car " for the proper tire PSI. Just a world of information inside that owners manual.
@@jcg0324 Wait, I'm supposed to read that...?! 🤣
You’ve also just admitted to never having read your owner’s manual.
Yeah, but tire pressures are also in your owners manual. The door jamb sticker is a convenience for quick review, so if for some reason it's missing, the owners manual also says it.
Great advice, thanks! I’m especially pleased that you backed up your statements with the reasons/facts behind them. NICE JOB!
simp
I decided to make this video when a 60 year old told me he never knew about the sticker and when a teenager filled his moms tires till "they looked full" .
The only goal of this video is to show that there is a specification . If you start with the specification you can adjust from there based on your needs and circumstances. Some would think this was common knowledge, but its not. Hence the video. I appreciate those that watch and hope you find my videos helpful. If you do not, well then that is ok too.
I recently had a chat with a Julian from Tire Rack regarding tires and the manufacturers pressure specification, there is none, you are to go by the placard on the car.
tiresvote.com/articles/everything-you-need-know-about-contact-patch/
Lou
One point that may be of interest is that higher tire pressures can reduce fuel consumption, sometimes significantly. The recommended tire pressure table often shows a higher pressure for freeway driving. I think it doesn't hurt to use this higher pressure all the time.
@@ib9rt running max psi is not beneficial
@@nomercyinc6783 What do you mean by "max psi" and what do you mean by "not beneficial"?
Also, most tire manufacturers also have a book of suggested pressures for your car with their tire. You can't go wrong with either.
But what if your using a different brand of tire than the car came with? Does the recommended psi still apply?
Spot on. This should be taught in drivers Ed.
@@willem2544 rims aren’t. Atleast the last time I checked. I could be wrong. It’s happened before. Just ask my wife.
any safety conscious driver should check their tyres once a month and the oil and coolant level once a week also top up the windscreen washer fluid weekly. it doesn't take long.
Don't forget the brake fluid! Weekly ;)
Yes, and if ones does that it makes N2 fill completely unnecessary. Free 78%N2 works great with that advice.
Thank you so much. I take my small Navion motorcoach to a truck tire service center. They always want to do what he says trucker do...up the PSI from tire to max tire PSI. Example my sticker inside door way is 61 PSI dang he bumps up to 65 or 67. I so confused but I sure trust you. Thanks.
Great video, 1 part not mentioned I think would be important to speak on..
Can't you exceed the door sticker recommendation as long as you stay a bit under the tire max?
For example, if the sticker recommendation is 35 PSI but your tire says Max 50 you could inflate to 40 without an issue to the tire. The ride may be slightly more stiff but rarely noticable and if your tires are wearing on both outer edges due to under inflation, this could also help it wear more evenly and lastly help with slightly better gas mileage although it's not very noticeable.
First off thanks for the nice comments. Secondly yes I can talk for hours on tires and pressure and all sorts of experiences, the goal was just to make aware of the sticker and an actual manufacturer recommendation. You are 100% correct on your statement.
@@MasterTechLou ok thanks for your reply and clarification. I know what you mean, I could talk for hours on stuff like this too lol.
Thanks and take care.
You could do that, but your tyres won't last as long because they'll wear out down the centre of the tread, from being too rounded out, due to the excessive air pressure. There's usually a diagram of that in the vehicle's owner's manual.
Centre tread wear due to overinflation is not an issue with the radial tyres we've been using for the last 50 years. Not unless the tyres are very badly made, or the inflation pressure is dangerously high.
@@jublywubly please refer to what Mark said in the previous comment. It's almost exactly what I was going to reply to you about. I was not saying to overinflate by high levels, but 3-5 psi makes a difference when done properly. Also, some car manufacturers recommend a lower psi for comfort but that reduces the life of the tire as they will wear unevenly. Multiple mechanics have explained it the same to me which is why I mentioned it here to clarify options. After years of having inner edges worn prematurely I learned why it's not only an alignment that can cause this issue. It's your preference really but I hope this may help.
I like to add 10-20% more air pressure than the door spec. I find it is a little biased to comfort over fuel mileage and even wear. Remember tires leak about 1 psi per month so by going a little over you can not have to check as frequently and you stay in the sweet spot longer, especially if you are going from summer to winter.
Dang, now I feel like I’ve gotta watch a video on how to correctly brush my teeth. 🤷♂️
I fill my tires with an electric pump that plugs into my car. The nitrogen that came with new tire installation at Costco helps but still I had to add air when the cold weather came. Also, one valve has a tiny leak so I’m adding plain air once a week until I get it fixed. Nitrogen is good if you don’t have time to check your tire pressure regularly but really, I’d rather keep on top of it and same the money.
No, water does not damage the inside of your tyre. The most obvious way to know that is because you have never seen an old tyre damaged from the inside by water, but they all have water in there throughout their lifetime, as it is not avoidable when putting air in there in the usual fashion, e.g. at home / at the gas station. The inside and the outside of the tyre are made of the same rubber, and the outside is exposed to water all the time and does not get damaged, or else we would not make tyres of rubber. The seals in your water pipes are made of rubber, the seal in your tyre valve is made of rubber, most water tightening seals are made of rubber, it is not reactive to water. The reason you do not want water in your tyre is pressure control. If a litre of water changes in to the gaseous phase, it expands to ca 1 cubic metre, i.e. a factor of 1,000. So having even a little bit of water can have a substantial effect on tyre pressure as the tyre gets warm or even hot due to outside air temperature and/or driving style - but we want to keep our pressure in a controlled range for reliable performance. That is because while water fully changes to the gaseous phase at boiling point / 100 C, some of it always changes to a certain degree as a chemical property of water, even below 100 C, so if a tyre has 30-40-50 C, that already has an effect despite being nowhere near the boiling point. If all you ever do is local trips to the Starbucks, the water in a tyre does not matter, as it never heats up in a substantial way, and if it did, the driving conditions would be well below the tyre's limit. But if you hit the Autobahn for 5 hours on a hot summer day, it matters. That is why some manufacturers will also tell you to measure the pressure at e.g. 20 C, and also specify speed limits for a given tyre pressure. "Cold" tyres means different things to different people, especially seeing how fucking dumb the average person is ;) But of course tyres also have a wide range of acceptable pressure, so it rarely matters whether you check pressure at 18 or 23 C... My tyres even have 2 pressures to choose from, so what is the correct pressure is on a spectrum - it has to be - tyres take a lot of abuse from ignorance and their use cases throughout their lifetime. Therefore pure nitrogen only makes sense on the racetrack, as tyres don't usually get tortured that much on public roads.
For over 25 years I have always put about 5 PSI less than the max on what the tire reads.
Great video. Learned a lot. But why do the tire companies put example 44psi max pressure if we are going to look inside the door?
@@Dhi-fe5eu because the same tire can be used on multiple applications. So the tire itself has a max pressure NOT suggested pressure
you're going to trigger alot of sheep with this video. Often they ignore the sticker and go right ahead and take it up to 40psi or more... Thank you for the video and trying to help the masses. ❤️
Unfortunately, many comments confirm your sheep analogy and being triggered.
Up to 40? I take it up to 90 like my friends/dad/family/grandma/girlfriend's dog told me too.
BaAaAaAa
@@benjaminabel8596 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Your friend's/dad/family/grandma/girlfriend's dog may have commented for this video.
I had a bit of a fight with a service tech at Jiffy Lube over tire pressure once. Fortunately I looked at the service report before I’d left and he’d marked all of my tires at 45 psi. When I asked him why he did that, he said that the tire called for 45psi of maximum pressure. I argued with him for a few minutes about where to find the proper pressure recommended for that car and he still refused to reset them to the 32psi they should have been at. I ended up having to call out the store manager to explain it to him.
@@rickbateman2401 Did he also mark 6 ugga duggas on the lug nuts? 4 ugga duggas on the drain plug? If not, it's probably not a Jiffy Lube.
I'm still trying to get my neighbor to do a seasonal charge of the battery, when you test it it says good but recharge.12.23. The air is a future project. 😄 Good video lou.👍🇨🇦
When they pay almost 300$ for a new battery they may finally listen 👂🏻
What is a seasonal charge?
@@calitri76 in spring @ just before winter.
@@404notfound..... Why not just drive it on the highway for 30 minutes??
I’ve had lead acid batteries last over 6 years doing this
@@christophervanzetta I used to do just that but after working 11 1/2 hours every day it's the last thing I wanna do lol
Hello boss have just seeing your videos,am in Nigeria, Balancing and Alignment of vehicles is my job,but I wish to learn more from your company
Thanks for viewing! My goal is to share my knowledge and experience. Hope you enjoy 😊
Best explanation of, and case for, nitrogen fill that I've heard. There's a rampant false-dichotomy argument about whether nitrogen fill improves fuel economy due to lighter weight, but this argument detracts from the actual benefits. Thank you!
I feel like I just got a software upgrade… mind blown. I’ve been overfilling my tires by 7PSI, consistently, for years, having never even noticed that sticker.
Thanks for the humbling but enlightening info!
That was the main purpose of my video, I wonder how many walked out to the car to see the sticker and then check their tires to find they had a leak, or low tire. I am to help. that is it. thank you.
Lou
And yet, nothing has ever gone wrong...
@@madatown I’m not sure that’s true. My wife’s car is an AWD Rogue, and we recently replaced 1 of the 4 tires, which makes the computer go nutty and it’s loud at certain speeds because the height of that 1 tire is different from all of the others. Being off on pressure all these years may well have cost in terms of gas mileage, wear and tear etc. If there’s a right way to do something, I’d prefer to know about it and at least attempt to do it that way.
@@michaelkeymont501 There is some wiggle room in inflation specs. About the only thing 7 psi over the door jamb sticker value will get you is a slightly rougher ride and theoretically better fuel economy. With regard to your tire replacement issues, if the older tires were worn that much, it might have been a good idea to replace the one on the opposite end of that axle at the same time.
@@billyjack3580 they actually weren’t that bad, but since this is AWD, from what I’ve read and been told, the computer tries to compensate for the mismatch and it causes excessive wear on the transmission. All I know is that it’s gotten LOUD and all of the tires are in decent shape. We’re probably going to replace them this one time and get rid of the car. It’s not worth the trouble if you have to spend a grand every time you get a flat tire.
Yeah, I’ve never had any trouble with my slightly over-inflated tires, but it’s nice to know what they’re actually supposed to be inflated to instead of just guessing.
I was wondering how someone could talk about tire pressure for 6:27 minutes. Actually, good information.
I could go on forever to satisfy all of the comments in here, but the main goal was to show of the sticker. :) thanks for watching!
I always set it at 32 cold pressure. During my driving, i can see the pressure increase to 36. If you dont want your tire to blow up, dont over inflate it. When it was new, the tire pressure was at 50 psi. The dealer did not deflate it to the correct pressure.
As part of 'PDI'(pre-delivery inspection), the dealer is supposed to lower the tire pressures from their shipping value to what is on the vehicle door frame placard, or as I would - one PSI over, to protect the customer, who may never check the pressures until their first oil change, from themselves.
Very informative. Thanks. I had a guy at my local tire shop try to convince me to always run 50 psi(max) in my boat trailer tires....
trailer tires are something I myself still arent sure about, I dont run max but I dont run near mid thirties, in my experience the greater the load the more pressure you want. So I dont dare comment on stuff I myself havent experienced fully to understand all the ins and outs. But when it comes to car and truck tires, the main goal was to inform of the door sticker that there is in fact a recommended pressure from the manufacturers. I appreciate you watching. Lou
@@MasterTechLou You are correct. Trailer tires should always be run at the max inflation listed in the tire sidewall. Passenger car tires should use the placard on the door jamb. (Goodyear Senior Tire Engineer - retired)
Good video! Everyone needs to know this.
Gas station air fillers always have too much water to it. I bought the Dewalt air compressor. It has a digital gauge as well as a number cutoff. If I set it to 35 psi, when it reaches approx 35.0 +/- .1 it automatically shuts off.
I like that
Hmm thanks - I learned a few things. Very informative for every car owner, great video
What do you call INTELLECTUAL AND PRODIGY AND ACCOMPLISHED ADD two more SUBSTANTIAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE The answer is Master Tech lou
My teacher
God bless you for sharing it Take care and have a great Evening with all your family around you 👍 PROFICIENT Master Tech lou
From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧
Thank you Nick I appreciate you always
Whoa! I had never heard the counting trick. Good stuff.
It doesnt replace a gauge, its merely something ive learned myself to save time running back and forth to the dash to make sure tpms is happy. Thanks!
Great advice thank you.
My advice to the shop owner is to get an air dryer for your air compressor .
Thanks! That is an air dryer just not located properly. I drain it daily as its also inside a detail shop. Talk about moisture!