Before hitting the road, one of the things you should confirm about your car is the tire pressure. The tire should have the right pressure to guarantee you a smooth ride. Considering that the wheel is a vital component of the vehicle, it should always be in good shape to prevent avoidable road mishaps. A skill to have that will come in handy when driving is how to check car tire pressure without a gauge.
For many, this may seem far-fetched as the gauge always comes to their aid to see if the tires have adequate pressure. However, when there is no gauge nearby, you will appreciate such skills. It needs a keen eye for you to be sure if your wheels have air in them. Banking on our vast experience in the automobile repair and maintenance sector, we will show you how to check pressure without a gauge.
Checking Car Tire Pressure without Gauge
Before going deeper into checking tire pressure without a gauge, we must start with the basics. In this case, it is how to check tire pressure with a gauge. The pressure gauge is a device that looks like a clock and has extensions that you connect to the valve. The dials will show you the tire pressure. Before using the tire pressure gauge, look at the manufacturer’s recommendations on the ideal tire inflation pressure.
The unit of measuring tire pressure is pounds per square inch, abbreviated as PSI. For smaller vehicles, like sedans, minivans, and minitrucks, the PSI is around 27 to 32. For larger vehicles like trucks and some SUVs, the PSI is higher, going up to 45. With this information, you understand what your pressure reading should be. Using a pressure gauge is straightforward, requiring you to uncap the valve step and insert the tube into it. Ensure there is no hissing sound as it indicates that you have not put the pressure gauge’s tube correctly.
Check the dial’s readings, and if they are correct, you are good to hit the road. A thing to know is that the readings of the front and rear tires may vary, depending on the model and manufacturer’s recommendations.
Back to our main subject, how do you check car tire pressure without the gauge? Here are some of the moves you can pull.
Feeling the Wheels
This is one of the most common ways to check for tire pressure without a gauge. Also known as hand pressure, it involves pressing the tire using your hand or foot. If the tire feels soft, it means that you need to inflate it. If it feels firm, then it has sufficient pressure and is good for the road. You can rely on this method how to check bike tire pressure without gauge.
Visual Confirmation
Another way to check your pressure is by eyeballing the wheels, checking for any anomaly. To use this method, the car should be on a flat surface. Pay attention to the tires to see if they are bulging. A bulge of more than a centimeter on both sides indicates that your pressure is low, and you need to inflate the tires before you get behind the steering wheel.
Loading Weight
You may also try to load some weight on the vehicle to check on your pressure. In this case, you will have your sight on bulges. If you add some weight to the car and you see the tire bulging more than 10%, it means you need to fill it with some air.
Driving Experience
You may notice some symptoms of low pressure when driving. There are several pointers to a low pressure on the road, such as steering noise when turning, a rough ride, or problems when steering. If you encounter these issues, you should check your wheels to rule out problems.
Can I drive with a flat tire? No, you should never go with a flat tire. You will be risking your safety and that of other road users if you move with a flat tire. Additionally, you can damage some car parts, like the axle and the car suspension system.
The Case of Overinflated Tires
When looking at how to put air in tires, you should avoid overinflating them. While it may seem to be a good thing as your wheels won’t be flat, you are at the risk of damaging your car. It may lead to unbalanced tires or bulging at the treads. Due to the imbalance, the ride may be rough, with high chances of losing car control if at high speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q: How Do You Manually Check Tire Pressure?
If you do not have a tire pressure gauge to help you ascertain tire pressure, you can resort to the manual way. You can achieve this by pressing on the tire to see if it is soft or firm. If soft, it means you need to inflate it, while if firm, you have sufficient pressure. You can also check manually for pressure through visualization, where you focus on bulges. The car should be in parking mode on a flat surface for proper judgment. You can refer tothis videoto see how to confirm if your tires are right for the road.
Q: How Do I Know If My Tires Need Pressure?
There are several pointers of your tire being low in pressure. First of all, you can see a warning light alerting you of low pressure on your dash in some car models. You can also inspect the tires by feeling it if it is firm or soft. If soft, it requires pressure. When driving, you may notice that the car will lose speed or present problems in steering. If you have such issues, you should check the wheels and inflate them if they are the problem.
Q: How Do You Check Tire Pressure At A Gas Station?
When at the gas station, go to the section for inflating tires. Take the pressure gauge tube and start with one tire. Confirm the tire’s PSI value, remove its valve stem cap, and put it in the tube. Make sure you insert it correctly for proper readings. If it is within the PSI value, you are good to go.
Q: How Do I Know My Tire PSI?
The PSI stands for pounds per square inch, the unit for measuring tire pressure. The value is usually on the tire side. You can also check on this value by opening your car and looking at the jamb.
Q: Does AutoZone Check Tire Pressure?
AutoZone mainly deals in car parts and accessories, meaning that they do not check for tire pressure. However, you may get accessories like the tire pressure gauge that you can use to confirm the pressure in the tires.
Q: How Often Should I Check The Air In My Tires?
Popular tire brands and car manufacturers recommend that you check your tire pressure at least once every month. If you travel long distances or carry many loads on the road, you should check the wheel more frequently, even weekly, to be on the safe side.
Q: Can You Drive With Low Tire Pressure?
You should never drive with low tire pressure as you will be causing more harm than good. If possible, change your tires before driving. Moving with a deflated tire can cause accidents or damage to the vehicle.
Final Word
Tire pressure is one of those critical things that should be alright before moving with a vehicle. With the pressure at the recommended PSI limit, you are sure of a smooth road experience. Together with tire rotation, having sufficient air in the tires will improve their life to serve you for long. After looking at how to check car tire pressure without a gauge, you are good to go if you do not have the gadget. Ensure you regularly check the pressure and perform maintenance routines like wheel alignment for the best experience.
