Watch The Low Tire Pressure during The Winter Months

It's not uncommon for the "low tire pressure" light in your car to go on during the colder months.  Of course, when the temperatures fall, air becomes denser, and it lowers the tire pressure.  This, in turn, could lead to a puncture.

Colder temperatures will cause tire pressure to drop about 1 psi for every 10°F drop in air temperature. Getting a tire pressure warning light on a chilly morning doesn’t necessarily indicate a puncture, just that your tires are running low pressure and you need to top them off as soon as possible. Drive a few miles and the tires will warm up, perhaps causing the warning light to turn off. Whether it goes off or not, your tire pressure needs to be checked with a gauge and topped off.

As a general rule, check the pressure monthly. Don’t wait for the tire pressure warning light from to come on.  It’s meant to alert you of a tire losing air while your driving, not serve as a maintenance reminder.

All new cars have a tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS, to alert motorists of possible problems.  This monitoring device has been a requirement in all vehicles since September 2007. Even if your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, it's recommended to use a gauge to check the pressure in all of your tires at least once per month, no matter what the weather is like.  

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