Cold weather and your tires

A good friend of mine would always call me on cold mornings and tell me "my light is on again".  And few days ago my brother came to me with an idea, "Hey you should write your next blog on cars TPMS system". he is also in the automotive industry and deals first hand with auto repair shops and the private sector on a day to day basis .
  What is a TPMS?? you may ask, well translated to plain English it stands for "tire pressure monitoring system" these are sensors that come standard with most vehicles manufactured after 2002. when these sensors detect a tire is low in air it will trigger a warning light on your instrument panel.           

Experts say that air pressure in a tire typically goes down 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change. Chances are that you haven’t checked their tire pressure in the past month. If the last time you checked your tire pressure was during the heat of summer you could be riding on severely under inflated tires without realizing it.

 Maintaining proper air pressure is the most important thing you can do for your tires. Under inflation is the worst enemy a tire can have, it causes increased wear on the shoulder area (outside edges) of the tire. It also generates excessive heat, and it can reduce fuel economy because soft tires make the vehicle work harder.
Tire manufacturers recommend checking tire inflation at least once per month with a reliable gauge. To find the proper air pressure for your vehicles tires, look in the vehicle owner’s manual, in the glove box or on the driver’s side door jamb.

 Even though it takes a few minutes to check your tire pressure it sometimes is something we all neglect. .
At least once a month, take a few minutes and check your tire pressure with an accurate tire gauge. You can’t tell if a tire needs air just by looking. It could be under inflated by 10 pounds and still look fine. and if you simply add air every time your warning light comes on you can also be causing harm to your tires, why you ask. As you drive your car the heat from friction between your tires and the road will cause an increase in tire pressure. As the temperature of your tires rises, so will the pressure levels. This increase can cause overinflated tires to blow or under inflated tires to appear acceptable. To avoid improper air pressure a air pressure gauge available at any auto parts store can guarantee your air pressure will always be at the correct level. When checking your tire pressure make sure its never on a cold morning always do it after your tires have had a chance to warm up.