Even after regular servicing of cars and bikes, to achieve the optimum performance we must inflate the tyres properly. Check out the best car tyre inflator for a better perspective on the air pressure in the tyres of your car.
What problems can be caused due to improper inflation of the tyre
There can be just two instances. Either you may inflate the tyres more than what is recommended or less. In both cases, there will be problems while you drive your car or bike. Here’s what you may face:
Underinflated tyres
You’ll feel less grip of the tyres on the road if you have an underinflated tyre. The handling won’t be so on point and you may have a problem controlling the car in areas where you need accurate driving.
When cornering, the underinflated tyres will lead to a lot of understeering and you may hear the tyres squelching. Low tyre pressure can also affect the fuel economy. This is because, with low tyre pressure, there is more friction between the tyres and so more power is needed to move the car.
Overinflated tyres
The main issue that you will feel is the bounciness of the car will increase. The centre portion of the tyre will wear off faster when tyres are overinflated. You may also lose traction.
Properly checking and inflating tyres
There are a lot of factors which together will contribute to properly inflating your tyres. Here are some of the tips:
- Try to use an accurate tyre pressure gauge for checking the air pressure in your tyres.
- You should not inflate or check your tyre while your tyre is still hot. What I mean is, if you have driven your car for about 1 hr then do not inflate your tyre immediately. When hot, tyre pressure will be more and hence will lead to improper inflation.
- Try to fill your tyres with nitrogen. In many petrol pump air filling stations, there is an option to fill nitrogen. Nitrogen stays longer in the tyres and so will reduce the need for repeated inflation of tyres. Also, there are many other benefits of using nitrogen in tyres. It is said that nitrogen improves the longevity of the tyres and makes them less vulnerable to wear and tear. It also gives better handling capabilities.
- On the sidewall of the tyre, you will find the max pressure denoted. Never fill your tyres up to this level as this is the maximum pressure the tyre can tolerate. If there is any inaccuracy in the tyre inflator and you end up filling more then the tyre may burst. So, inflate at least 5 PSI less than the max. Pressure.
- The tyre pressure needed in your vehicle will be denoted in a sticker either at the door side of the driver or the co-passenger. Check that out and always stick to that. That is tested air pressure and your car will perform optimally at that pressure.
Types of tyre pressure gauges
When it comes to proper checking of air pressure in the tyres, it is important that we have an accurate tyre gauge. Tyre pressure gauge can be digital or analogue
Analog tyre pressure gauge
These are in use for a long time and are the traditional tyre gauges. It has a pointer needle to give the reading of the air pressure.
Digital tyre pressure gauge
These are costlier than the analogue ones but are more accurate. These show reading in digital format i.e., in numbers. The working principle is the same in both of the tyre gauges.
Digital tyre pressure gauges are built into many modern-day cars and the tyre pressure can be easily checked in the instrument cluster. The in-built system also warns when we have low tyre pressure.
How to inflate tyres
First, you need a tyre inflator. For home use, you can purchase a tyre inflator but if you own a repair shop garage then you can purchase an air compressor.
Take the pipe and push the knob into the valve stem of the tyres with pressure. If you do not apply pressure then you will hear leaking sounds and actually, you may end up defaulting the tyres rather than inflating.
All tyre inflators have a monitor system where you can set the air pressure. Set that first and then inflate the tyres as directed above. The monitor system will show the current pressure and you need to check that constantly if your tyre inflator doesn’t have an auto cut-off feature.
Some of the popular tyre inflators are Michelin and Bergmann Typhoon. Bergmann Typhoon is cheaper and more value for money as you will get all the functions at a cheaper price. Manual foot pump inflators are also available but they will be a hassle to use.
In this blog, we discussed some of the tips for better checking and inflating tyres. The mentioned accessories can easily be bought from this online site for car accessories. Hurry up and get the best deals now.
