Tire pressure: Do you know what the right pressure is for your car?

Tires: Those often-forgotten elements when it comes to preventative car maintenance. And yes, you read that right: often-forgotten. Because despite not seeming like it at first glance, tire wear can lead to stability problems while driving, and in some cases, even traffic accidents.

The main thing to keep in mind when talking about preventative tire maintenance is that we must regularly inspect their wear and pressure. Excessively worn tires can result in increased braking distance, some instability at the wheel, and the almost always dangerous effect of hydroplaning. These problems can also occur if the tires are not inflated to the correct pressure.

Knowing the necessary pressure for each model

The average tire pressure recommended by experts is usually around 2.5 bar. However, we must clarify that this measurement, being an average, may not be ideal for your vehicle. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a tire pressure chart, or, if applicable, the manufacturer's official documentation. It is very important to emphasize that when measuring tire pressure, the tires should be cold. Otherwise, we could obtain inaccurate results due to heating.

We should also note that in the case of vehicles equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), it will not be necessary to check the tire pressure. Furthermore, the use of this system is mandatory for all new passenger cars manufactured in the European Union.

Be very careful of aquaplaning.

Aquaplaning is simply the loss of contact between the tire and the road surface because a layer of water, approximately half a millimeter thick, forms around the tire. This phenomenon usually occurs when, as the vehicle's speed increases, the water cannot be displaced by the front of the tire—due to the sudden increase in speed—nor through the tread pattern (since it is either worn or the tire is underinflated).

This layer of water directly results in an increased braking distance and the always dangerous loss of steering control.

Tire Gas: Is It Really Necessary?

Have you been offered to fill your tires with gas instead of air? Many workshops and tire shops offer this service, arguing that it will prevent you from having to check the pressure regularly. This is because, in theory, a tire filled with nitrogen (the gas used to fill tires) tends to lose pressure more slowly than one filled with air.

So, is it really worth inflating our tires with nitrogen? Well, to answer that question, we must first clarify that 78% of the air that a compressor injects into the tire is nitrogen, with the other 22% being oxygen. Therefore, a 22% increase in nitrogen levels, in the case of passenger cars, doesn't represent a change large enough to make any difference.

Tips to Extend Tire Lifespan

Just like with the rest of your vehicle's parts, it's also necessary to follow certain guidelines or tips with your tires to significantly reduce wear. These measures can be summarized as follows:

1- Check their pressure: Keeping your tires properly inflated (neither too high nor too low) will not only help you avoid problems while driving, but will also prevent premature wear.

2- Keep them balanced: Balancing your tires will not only help prevent premature wear, but will also help protect your vehicle's suspension, steering, and transmission from wear.

3- Keep them aligned: It's important that your tires are correctly aligned with the axle. Otherwise, you'll notice the vehicle pulling to one side. Causing problems with our driving, and of course, premature wear of our tires.

4. Change the valves often: If you change the valves when you change your tires, you'll prevent wear and tear from causing the tires to lose pressure and therefore wear out much faster.