How To Fill Air In Your Car’s Tires?
Maintaining your car is your utmost priority as it can ensure smooth and efficient driving. It also makes your car look brand new and stylish at all times. The main part of the car causing you trouble are your tires, so you need to take extra care of them and check their functioning on a regular basis.
Going to the mechanic all the time can be an expensive task. You can do some basic tasks yourself without taking the help of a mechanic like filling the air in your car’s tires. You don’t need to run to the gas station or the mechanic for such a small task as we have provided a step by step guide on how to put air in car tires.
What is the Equipment you need to put Air in Car Tires?
1. A Tire Pressure Gauge
You can get these at the auto parts stores, and the pocket gauges are the best option as they are inexpensive and portable. They help to check the pressure in the tire. There are two types of tire pressure gauge available. They are:
Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkgv8tj5rhQ
- The pencil type: It resembles the shape of the pencil as it is long, slender and metallic in the material. It also has a graduated sliding extension which is pulled out by the air pressure when it is brought near the tire stem of the car.
- The dial type: This one is most commonly used by the gas stations and the mechanics. The fitting is similar to that of the pencil type, but it contains a graduated gauge and a needle.
2. Air Pump
This is the main equipment you need, find the best air compressor as it will do the job quickly and easily. You can also use bicycle pump and manual floor pump, but it takes too much effort and time.
- If you use a bicycle pump, then ensure that the pump is compatible with a Schrader valve.
- Not all bicycle pumps have this feature in them.
- When using an air pump, ensure that the type of pumps is compatible to plug into the 12v outlet.
- Almost all pumps are compatible, and you can easily get them at the auto parts store.
3. Safety Gloves
It is recommended to use safety gloves while removing the valve stem cap to prevent any injury.
Step by Step Guide on How to Fill-Air in Your Car Tires
Photo Credit: https://www.motorbeam.com/2014/01/tips/fill-nitrogen-air-tyres/
- The first and also the most important step is to get a pressure gauge to check the pressure in your car tires. You can either use a dial type gauge or a pencil type.
- To check the pressure, you need to find the small rubber or metal valve stem which is situated beside the rim of your wheel. Slowly turn the screw to the left, and as soon as you unscrew it, you will find the air valve. Hold it in the same position, and you will hear a light rushing sound as the air rushes out. Check the reading on the pressure gauge as it measures the force with the air rushing out from the valve. Remember to hold the gauge a little away from the tire to get an accurate reading.
- The reading on the tire pressure gauge should be from 30-35 psi for a normal car tire. Trucks usually have a higher pressure. Many cars require the same amount of pressure in each tire of the car but it depends on the type of car; some require a different value of pressure in the front and the rear tires. Tires deflate about 1psi every month, so be very regular in checking the pressure every once in a while as driving for a long time with low-pressure tires can damage your tires permanently.
- You need to make sure that the tires are cold when you fill the air inside them. If the tire is warm, then the hot air in the tire seems to expand the tire which will give you an inaccurate reading. It is best to fill the air first thing in the morning or when you’ve driven less than 3.2 km after you discovered a flat. Don’t drive more than a mile or two as that length of the distance will result in building up the warm air inside the tire and the reading of the pressure will not be precise.
- The next step involves putting the air inside the tires. You need to be very careful while doing this. Firstly, remove the valve stem caps and keep them aside or beside you as you need to attach them later. After removing the valves, put the mouth of the pump into the valve and gently press the tip of the valve to that of the valve. You will hear a strong rumbling sound which indicates that the pump or the compressor is running. You will have to wait for 10-20 minutes depending on the pressure which was present earlier. If you have low pressure, then you will have to wait for some more minutes as it takes the time to fill in the air.
- After a few minutes, check the pressure as you go and if it is lower than the required pressure then keep the pump running. Don’t fill in the tires with extra air as they may crack and malfunction. Check that the pressure has reached 30-35 psi. You should check the owner’s manual of the car as the pressure may vary from car to car. So find out the suitable amount of pressure which is given in the specification of the car and fill the air accordingly.
- If the pressure is higher than it should be, then release the extra air from the tire by depressing the center pin of the valve system. Release the air in small amount in order not to release too much air.
- Once you are done, replace the valve stem cap. This valve cap ensures that the tire does not lose too much air. The valve is always airtight and only loses air when it comes in contact with something that can depress pressure out of it, such as a twig, fingers or any hard object on the road. Repeat the procedure for every tire.
Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yehalugCjYQ
The above step by step guide shows how easy and important it is to get your car tires filled with air at all times. It is a very easy procedure, and you can do it yourself without help. You can either get the equipment and do it in the comfort of your garage or go to the nearest gas station. At the gas station, you don’t need the attendant as the guide has shown you the most accurate way to do it.
Maintain your car tires properly by using the best car tire chains available as they will ensure that your tires are durable for a longer period. If you use the car extensively and travel long distances, then it is likely that the tires will wear out faster. If you notice non-repairable wear, then it is the time to replace your car tires as using damaged tires puts you in a very risky and unsafe situation. Take utmost care of your tires for a smooth drive.
