Proper inflation pressure is necessary for optimum tire performance, safety and best fuel economy. Following these simple tips can help you maximize your investment on tires while keeping your vehicle safe.

1: Always check your tire pressure when your tires are cold. Checking cold tires simply means that your tires are at air temperature. You can check tire pressure any time of the day, no matter what the outside temperature is, as long as the tires have been sitting for a few hours or haven’t been driven for more than a few miles.

2: Avoid over inflation and under inflation because this could cause damage to your tires. Over inflation pressure increases stiffness which may deteriorate ride and generate excessive vibration. Under inflation may result in severe cracking or even a blowout. Always inflate tires to the pressure listed on the vehicle door or in the owner’s manual. The number on the tire is the maximum allowable air pressure for that particular tire, not the recommended pressure for that tire when used on your vehicle.

3: Visually inspect your tires often and check tire pressure monthly. It is difficult to tell just by looking at radial tires whether they are under inflated. Also, the “feel” of the vehicle does not change significantly, so gauge-checks are preferred.