I like many others I'm sure check my tire pressue when I get around to it and this morning I got a low tire pressure warning. Rolled into my local Wawa to the air station and checked my required pressure: 35 psi. Set the machine to 35 and got started:

Holy crap, my driver's side front was 24 psi

The other 3 were 27 psi

I really need to get into a routine of checking more often here. Maybe a recurring phone reminder? What do you all do?

I used to live up near you and cold weather would lower psi and set off my TPMS and I would run around putting air in all 4 cars in the family stable.

If you don’t have TPMS I don’t have a great idea. I have heard horror stories but in my experience these systems work quite well. I especially like TPMS where I can read individual psi on all 4 corners without searching for the low one.

The real solution though is to buy a compressor for your car. I have one that runs off the cigarette lighter and it easily fills the 30-36 psi range that my cars require. It’s fast enough and easy enough. That alone is better than searching for a gas station with an operable pump or having quarters. Lol. It’s tiny in its bag and really I should have one in every car. That is my advice. Good luck.

Last year my daughters dumb boyfriend (he is now vaporware thankfully) got to the house and I looked at his tire. You know how they say you can’t tell if modern radials are low by sight? Well I can tell you you can if it’s low enough. 7 psi. What a fucktard that kid was.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

Holy crap, my driver's side front was 24 psi

The other 3 were 27 psi

Was there a significant overnight temperature drop in your area (there was one here).

Having the correct tire pressure is one of the most important maintenance items you can do to your vehicle (I’m sure you already knew that).

This time of year is particularly important as the ambient temperatures start to drop so will your tire pressure. I remember reading that your tire pressure will drop 1 psi for every 10 degree drop of temperature.

Having said all that, I check our tire pressures every month if not more. Most modern vehicles display the pressures on your dash (although you may have to search through the menu to find it.

Having raced Porsches I found it amazing what just 1 psi difference can do the the performance of your tires.

You can just set a reminder on your phones calender (say the first of each month) to check the pressures. Remember the pressures should be checked cold, like first thing in the morning.

On my motorcycle, I check them before every ride.

On my truck, my Michelins have been rock solid on holding pressure and the only variable seems to be ambient temp. For example, ambient temp dropped 43 degrees (90 to 47) on Sunday. Monday morning TPMS warning light came on, and my tires were 5.5 psi low so I pressured them up with my compressor. A friend shared a pic of the tire filling line at Discount Tire and it was crazy long.

I check my truck tires a lot more during Houston's "winter." Will check again when it gets in the 30s, again when it gets in the 20s, and again if (hope it doesn't) get in the teens.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:

searching for a gas station with an operable pump or having quarters.

Every Discount Tire location that I have seen, has a drive-through lane where one of the service guys / gals comes out and inflates your tires at no cost. I think they use a 78% Nitrogen blend.

I have been told, but have not confirmed, that Costco offers the same service. Something strange though, it might just be the local stores, but the tire guys at Discount always seem cheerful and helpful, and the Costco tire guys seem to be grumpy.

Both the truck & the car put a message on the dash if the tires start to get low.

quote:

I think they use a 78% Nitrogen blend.

Sooo, just regular ole air?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:


Was there a significant overnight temperature drop in your area (there was one here).

It did get a little colder last night compared to previous nights but nothing extreme but tonight it's supposed to drop into the 20's

I think I had just neglected them too long

I also noticed my tires have a band right up the middle and it's now reading "Replace Tires", some sort of wear strip I did not realize my tires (General tires) had!

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
... the tire guys at Discount always seem cheerful and helpful, and the Costco tire guys seem to be grumpy.

Probably feel cheap after repeatedly saying "Welcome to Costco. I love you."

I have nothing bad to say about the TPMS on my car. It has warned me a number of times. The threshold is 5 psi low. The current set of tires have only been on a few months, but two of them have picked up nails that had to be patched.

I have Milton stick gauges in every vehicle and a portable Viair air compressor in my truck. I check every month and fill when needed.

I also check before leaving everytime when towing. I have a Viair 400 because of the 110psi and 90psi tires on the trailers. Most people would be well served with a Viair 88P.

A plug kit and portable compressor are must haves even over a jump battery. I've never needed a jump battery, but have used a plug kit and compressor at least two dozen times.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I have nothing bad to say about the TPMS on my car. It has warned me a number of times.

Same with my Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The TPMS in my 2007 Chevy TrailBlazer was annoying. Would show you there was a problem, but, not which tire. The Jeep's TPMS system not only shows me where there's a problem and where it is, but, I can bring it up any time and check my tire pressures.

And, yes: I do need to put air in them. Yesterday they were down to 33-35 psi. They're supposed to be 36-38 psi.

quote:

I think they use a 78% Nitrogen blend.

Some people like to pay extra for that.

Honda Pilot: TPMS system light randomly comes on indicating the system isn't working. No mechanic has been able to diagnose it, so we gave up on it.
Lexus: TPMS works, but only comes on when a tire is nearly flat. No way to adjust or see pressure on screen in car.

Car interfaces are almost at the level of 1980s computers.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

Holy crap, my driver's side front was 24 psi

The other 3 were 27 psi

Was there a significant overnight temperature drop in your area (there was one here).

My garage has been heated for 11 years now. I didn’t want my two vehicles to suffer.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Every Discount Tire location that I have seen, has a drive-through lane where one of the service guys / gals comes out and inflates your tires at no cost.

They always get the pressure wrong. Especially in winter tires for some reason. Not just Discount, but every tire shop I've ever used.

The owner's manual gives a range of pressures depending on tire size and what load the vehicle is carrying. The tire shop cheat sheet that they use will only have one of those numbers on it, and frequently they don't even seem to hit their own number.

Usually they significantly over-inflate.

If you need a portable compressor to keep in your car/power from your car battery, VIAIR is the way to go!

Get this one --> https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-0...ressor/dp/B00CDWJRZW

The VIAIR 87P is powered directly from your battery (NOT the cigarette lighter!), and will inflate an empty tire effortlessly! It's duty cycle is exponentially better than the common/cheaper air compressors that are powered by 12V outlet in your car. The 87P is impressively robust and sounds like a precision 'well oiled machine' (even though it's an oil-free design). You won't be disappointed

I have a compressor for my car/family. This thread made me look up compressors. Amazon is selling a pretty decent ac/dc version for 30 bucks. The reviews are good. It plugs into a standard outlet for home use or cigarette lighter for car tires. 150 psi supposedly.

That Viar one is nice but it’s triple the price (ish) and I don’t want to use alligator clamps on my battery when in my experience the 12v cigarette lighter in all 4 of my vehicles (Toyota, VW, Subarux2) works great.

I just 3 of these for my wife’s car and the kids car. Teromas. I’ll try it, if it works as advertised it stays, if not I will send them back. Reviews seem solid though and for 29 bucks it’s hard to go wrong.

The VIAIR will last forever...Seriously, it's essentially the same compressor most jeep owners use to 'Air Up' after a day of off-roading. A big reason is duty cycle, which on the cheaper air compressors is surprisingly short! Every other 'less robust' cigarette lighter powered air compressor I've had (three actually!) has shit the bed and needed to be replaced. They all seem to fail eventually, usually catastrophically, and of course it's always when you really need it! Buy once cry once...You'll thank me later!