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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters keep their tires properly inflated, we'll avert the CO2 created by about 352 cars in a year.
COCKTAIL FACT
The Department of Energy estimates that Americans waste $9 million in fuel each day due to improperly inflated tires.
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home › tip library › Correct Tire Pressure
Are your tires under pressure?
The Bite
If so, your gas mileage could be worse than your performance in yogilates class. Keep your tires properly inflated to save gas and cash - just watch out for the inflated ego that comes from being the coolest eco kid on the block.The Benefits
- Cleaner air. Proper inflation can keep 383 lbs of CO2 out of the air each year.
- More money in your pocket. Improve gas mileage by about 3%, and save up to 7 cents per gallon.
- Longer-lasting tires. Extend the life of your tires by as much as 15%.
- Safer driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says underinflated tires result in 660 deaths each year.
Personally Speaking
Heather's looking for a man who'll get down on his hands and knees...and check her tire pressure. Jen calls that lazy and feels empowered at the air pump.Wanna Try?
- Accu-gage Tire Pressure Gauge - any gauge'll do, but we like this one's easy-to-read dial ($10).
- Look for the pounds per square inch (PSI) number on your tire (or in your owner's manual), and check the pressure in your tires monthly. If it's low, roll on into a gas station or tire center to pump it up.
Jun 28,2007
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Mileage Myths
When my dad taught me to drive, he drew out a full diagram of the engine to show me why pressing the accelerator made the car go. He also showed me how to change the oil, change a tire, check fluids, and of course test tire pressure (oh, and how to call AAA when I forgot how to change a tire). His thoroughness later helped me kick ass on a flight-school mechanical test, but at the time, the reason for teaching me all this maintenance stuff was so I could help my $800 Dodge Colt trot along until another summer's wages rolled in (alas, no Mercedes Benz for Christmas for this little pioneer girl...)
Anyway, it never occurred to me - or I was in snooze mode when he told me - that inflated tires also meant saving gas money (not to mention gas). But I did hear rumors (albeit from incredibly unreliable sources) that playing the radio and driving a dirty car lowered gas mileage. I always wondered, and at last I know, courtesy of my favorite NPR guys and yours, Tom and Ray Magliozzi of Car Talk, that those are just mileage myths. That is, unless, as Ray replied to one caller, "...you're cleaning off some enormous, mutant, three-dimensional bird dropping in the shape of airplane flaps."
-Jenifer Morgan... off to make like Icarus, minus the plunging-into-the-sea-to-my-death part...
Anyway, it never occurred to me - or I was in snooze mode when he told me - that inflated tires also meant saving gas money (not to mention gas). But I did hear rumors (albeit from incredibly unreliable sources) that playing the radio and driving a dirty car lowered gas mileage. I always wondered, and at last I know, courtesy of my favorite NPR guys and yours, Tom and Ray Magliozzi of Car Talk, that those are just mileage myths. That is, unless, as Ray replied to one caller, "...you're cleaning off some enormous, mutant, three-dimensional bird dropping in the shape of airplane flaps."
-Jenifer Morgan... off to make like Icarus, minus the plunging-into-the-sea-to-my-death part...
Biter Comments...
You should not inflate your tires to the psi listed on the tire itself, but rather always to the psi listed inside your gas tank (for German cars) or in your owners manual. The same tires can be put on any car so the psi you should use depends on the car, NOT on the tires. The tire itself lists the maximum psi for the tire under any circumstance, but that might be way overinflated depending on the car the tires are on. This is what two mechanics have told me.
If I inflate my tires to the PSI listed in the owner's manual then I have tires that visibly look flat. There is a big difference between the 30 PSI listed in the owners manual and the 51 PSI rating of my tires.
Always follow the owners manual. My mother owned a Lexus ES250 (glorified Camry) a while back that had the same problem with the front tires looking low when properly inflated. Also remember that for every 10 degrees of ambiant air temperature change, you gain/lose 1 pound of pressure. So if you fill your tires to 32psi on an 80 degree day, when the weather turns brisk and it is 40 degrees, you only have 28psi in your tires. I and many other car guys (and girls) often run a few pounds more for better handling and load carrying capacity, my Saab wagon for example requires 33psi for 2 people, and 48!psi for 5 people in the car.
The PSI listed ON the tire is MAX PSI. You should inflate to the pressure listed on the sticker on the inside of the drivers side door (also listed in the owner's manual).
Don't put your quarters into the air pump at your local gas station before you know this: in many states - including California - gas stations are LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FREE AIR, regardless of whether you purchase fuel or not. The pumps can still be coin-operated though. So go inside the station and ask for the air to be turned on (sometimes they will give you tokens to put in instead of quarters). The more you know...
This is one of those tips that makes you stop and go, "oh, duh." Although I don't drive, I appreciated the comment about yogilates class, having hurt myself in ways that cannot be typed...lol
Thanks!
I'm surprised your Bite wasn't subjected "Pump 'em Up," but perhaps it's a trademark issue. Are you not familiar with pumpemup.org?
I saw the sidebar ad yesterday saying the biter chicks were going to be on the Today show this morning, but I missed it. Overslept, too much organic wine last night. Is it floating out there somewhere on the web where I can catch it?
A link to some eco-friendly moist towlettes would go nicely with this tip. I often think to check my tires as I'm filling up my tank, but then I see all the brake dust down there and figure I'll do it later. Keeping some little hand wipes in the car would be the smart thing to do.
Katherine -
You can check out the clip online at
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=2a652618-9b3b-4ef0-8778-85d236cb3966&f=00&fg=copy
Enjoy!
Melanie - Towlettes are particularly wasteful. I'd recommend using the drinking water you carry with you everywhere and perhaps a 2 oz. bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap. Or, you could try some eco-friendly hand sanitizer. Try EO Hand Sanitizer or Hiker's HandSanz.
This one is SOOOOO simple that it's not worthy as a tip. Or is it? When tires are low there's no warning (unless you drive a Prius, which actually shows a light on the dash :-). And even those of us who drive Prii sometimes, um, er uh, don't pay attention to the little lights.
It's so simple to fill up your tires, and makes a big (yes 5% to 10% big) difference.
Fill the gas. Fill the tires. Fill the gas. Fill the tires. Ooooooom.
Tom
The MSNBC bit was great (see link above). Heather and Jen, you two are the best! I really like how you used the "eco-curious" term, contrasting with the rest of us huggers. And somehow (just somehow) you managed to get drinking wine in. I may be a tree hugger, but I am eco-curious about that Frog's Leap 2003 Merlot :-)
Here's a fool proof method for your tire inflation checking needs. No need to be a mechanic, just check the color: green (good), yellow (needs attention), red (danger - go figure!).
Website: http://www.accupressurecaps.com
Good luck and safe traveling.
Take a road test!
GasDandy is an easy-to-use tool that tracks a vehicle’s mileage and maintenance information, providing data that can be used for both business and personal purposes. By making these figures readily available, the program also gives the consumer the opportunity to save money and to proactively identify problems that can shorten the life of their vehicle(s). Download a free trial version of GasDandy today at http://www.gasdandy.com
Hi this is a very informative post!
wow! Thanks, this is very useful and just right in time because i just baught a pair of tires at tirerack com and this will come in handy.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: planetrelations | June 28, 2007 at 06:23 AM