Impact of Cold Weather on Tyre Pressure

by Hlr Tyres Car Care Centre

Are you concerned whether or not you should inflate your tyres during winter season? Well, the answer to this question is yes. Lower temperatures imply lower pressure. So, you should brace yourself beforehand to inflate your tyres frequently as winters approach.

Tyres usually needs a pressure of anywhere between 30 to 35 pounds of force per square inch. There is not much difference in the numbers for winter or summer seasons. But keep in mind that the temperature invariably impacts the tyre pressure. Hence, the arrival of colder months should signal the need for inflating tyres more than before in order to preserve the accurate tyre pressure.

What’s the Link Between Cold Weather and Low Tyre Pressure?

As temperature outside drops, so does your tyre pressure. When its warm outdoors, the hot air molecules travel faster inside the tyre and collide with each other which increases the tyre pressure to an overinflated level. In contrast, when temperature comes down, the air molecules slacken and stick with each other. It leads to lower air pressure and your tyre becomes underinflated.

Car Tyres Birmingham manufacturers predict that approximately 1 psi is lost from tyres for every 10 degrees drop in the temperature. If your vehicle possesses a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, you will notice a warning light when the pressure drops by 25%. It is quite helpful for you to monitor your tyre pressure during winters.

Where Should You Look for Your Tyre Pressure?

Do you experience a problem in locating the pressure of your tyre in your car? No need to worry. There isn’t one, but quite a few places where you can locate it. Look for it in:

On your vehicle’s fuel filler door.
On your car’s manufacturer’s manual or handbook.
On the passenger or driver sides doorframes.

You should always inflate the winter tyres as per the recommendations of your vehicle manufacturer. It contributes to the maintenance of better traction and handling on icy and slippery roads. The same applies to all-season tyres as well.

How to Check Pressure in Cold Weather?

As a rule of thumb, you should inspect your tyres when your car is sitting idle in the parking lot for a duration of three hours. When you drive, the air temperature increases, thereby causing a rise in air pressure as well. So, check the tyre pressure when your car has not been moving for the above-mentioned time.

To arrive at a correct reading, place a pressure gauge into the air valve of the tyre properly. Quickly replace the valve cap to eliminate the possibility of any air seeping out. Inflate your tyres with an air compressor if the pressure is below what is recommended.

The following are the indicators of underinflated tyres:

Your tyres appear flatter.
The steering wheel of your car shakes.Dunlop Tyres Birmingham
It takes you more time to halt when you apply the brakes.

Do not give into the urge of driving on underinflated tyres. It will make you vulnerable to a collision. Correctly inflated Dunlop Tyres Birmingham have a greater lifespan and you save on gas well.